Prolonged detention of Taraba journalist without trial raises questions about justice system

After spending six months successful situation custody without the commencement of substantive proceedings proceedings, a Taraba State based journalist, Gabriel Olayinka whitethorn yet person an accidental to support himself successful tribunal arsenic the Upper Area Court II successful Jalingo, the authorities capital, has fixed July 2, 2026, for a definite proceeding successful his case.

The improvement came connected Wednesday aft the court, presided implicit by Justice Lawan Jika, granted a petition by the defence for accelerated proceeding successful the lawsuit involving allegations of transgression breach of spot brought against the writer by 1 Mr. Isa Jubri.

For Olayinka, the court’s determination represents a important measurement successful a ineligible conflict that has kept him down bars for fractional a twelvemonth without witnesses being called oregon substantive proceedings commencing.

For observers, however, the lawsuit has go a awesome of increasing concerns implicit prolonged pre-trial detention and delays successful the medication of justice.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Barrister D.G. Tukura, informed the tribunal that the prosecution was inactive awaiting statements of relationship and different applicable documents from 3 commercialized banks. He besides indicated that cardinal witnesses required for the prosecution’s lawsuit had yet to look earlier the court.

The petition efficaciously signaled different poss...