Nigeria, March 23 -- A magistrate court in Akwa Ibom on Thursday struck out a criminal defamation charge against a journalist in the state.

The journalist, Nsibiet John, was arrested on January 5, 2017, in Uyo and arraigned before a senior magistrate for publishing a story alleging that the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom, Moses Ekpo, "pockets" N250 million monthly as security votes from the state government.

Mr John doubles as the publisher and the editor-in-chief of The Ink, a local newspaper in the state.

Mr John's lawyer, Ekemini Udim, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the charge against the journalist has been struck out.

"When the matter came up, counsel for the state was not in court. He has been repeatedly absent from court since O...