Nigerian Publisher Agba Jalingo Acquitted of Cybercrime Charges.

On Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja acquitted Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo of cybercrime charges. Jalingo, who runs the online newspaper CrossRiverWatch, faced prosecution over a June 2022 Facebook post alleging that Alami Ayade, the wife of the former governor's brother, had someone take a law exam for her at the Nigerian Law School.

Arrested in August 2022 and arraigned in 2023, Jalingo was initially remanded but later granted bail. The court, under Judge Joyce Abdulmalik, found him not guilty, deeming the prosecution's case as baseless.

Premium Times reported that, Jalingo expressed relief and viewed the judgment as a victory for press freedom, highlighting his ordeal as persecution rather than prosecution. He had previously sought an out-of-court settlement with Mrs. Ayade, which was refused. Jalingo has faced similar legal challenges in the past, including a 2019 arrest on charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and cybercrime for accusing then-Governor Ayade of financial misconduct.