A Magistrate Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has struck out a ‘criminal defamation’ case filed by the Akwa Ibom State Government against a journalist, Kufre Carter.
Mr Carter, a sports reporter with a local radio station, XL 106.9 FM, was arrested on April 27 by Nigeria’s secret police, SSS, and charged with defamation for “castigating” the then Commissioner for Health in Akwa Ibom State, Dominic Ukpong, over his handling of the fight against COVID-19 pandemics in the state.
The journalist was detained for about a month in the SSS facility in the state.
The Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko, prosecuted the case on behalf of the state government.
The journalist’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said in a Facebook post the case was struck out on Friday, November 20, by Winifred Umohandy , a chief magistrate, “for want of diligent prosecution.”
Mr Effiong said the Akwa Ibom State Government did not provide any witness against the journalist.
He also said Mr Ukpong, who claimed to have been defamed, did not show up in court for the journalist’s trial.
“Those who occupy political positions in Nigeria must realise that the era of using security agencies to hunt and persecute citizens unchallenged for expressing their views on issues of bad governance is over.
“We will never tolerate such reckless abuse of power and cowardly acts of intimidation by politicians. We will continue to challenge their impunity within the ambits of the law,” the lawyer said.
The journalist, Mr Carter, said he had been vindicated by the court decision to strike out the case.
“Their (government) seeming lack of interest was because there was absolutely no shred of evidence to prove that I was guilty of what they accused me of,” he told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday.
Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...
Discussion about this post