A journalist in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria, Nengi Owei-Ilagha, was on Monday arraigned at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa for allegedly making defamatory posts on Facebook against members of the Police Community Relations Committee in the state.
A member of the police relations committee has been identified as Emmanuel Chiefson.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Commissioner of PoliceBen Okolo laid a three-count charge against the journalist before the magistrate, Emmanuel Gakko.
The accused, Mr. Owei-Ilagha, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His counsel, Godfrey Otiotio, filed an application for bail. He said the accused had earlier been granted administrative bail by the police and was ready to stand trial.
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Speaking on the application, the prosecuting attorney, MY Benabo, said he was not opposed to the bail. However, he asked the court to ask the accused to refrain from making comments on social media that could affect the outcome of the case.
The defense counsel, Mr. Otiotio, promised that his client would not comment on the case on social media.
Ruling on the bail application, the judge admitted the journalist on bail of N1 million and one surety.
Mr. Gakko said that the media has played and continues to play a positive role in society, but said that the media has no right to prevent the outcome of cases before the courts.
(AT)
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