Lawyer and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong has been rejected by the Uyo Correctional Centre.
The Lagos-based human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong was sentenced to one month imprisonment on Wednesday morning by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot allegedly without trial.
“(I am) Inside van at Uyo prison waiting for the issue of custody to be determined, between Uyo or Ikot Ekpene prison. History will vindicate the just,” he tweeted.
Earlier, the CJ fulfilled her July 2, 2022 threat to send Effiong, to prison in a suit in which Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State is a party.
The judge reportedly lashed out at the counsel, who pleaded with the court to entertain his application which sought the judge’s withdrawal from the case after his client, Leo Ekpenyong, accused her of bias.
“I will send you out of there now, remove that robe and send you to prison by the time you go to the Court of Appeal and come back. What is this? You are overstepping your bounds,” Justice Obot reportedly lashed out at Mr Effiong, according to a report by Premium Times.
Following Wednesday morning’s proceedings, the judge, according to Effiong, sentenced him to one month without a trial.
In a post via his Facebook page, Inibehe said his problem started when Justice Ekaette Obot asked Premium Times reporter to leave the court. The lawyer queried the action of the justice since the hearing in the court is a public event.
He also applied to the Chief Judge to excuse the armed men that were inside the courtroom and at this point, all hell was let loose as the chief judge asked him to step out of the Bar and condemned him to one month at Uyo Correctional facility.
“The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court. I said my lord, we were thinking that since the proceeding is public, that members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceeding. My Lord asked me to proceed with cross examination.
“I obeyed. I informed the court that I was not feeling comfortable and safe having two armed mobile policemen seated inside the courtroom, that it was strange and that I felt unsafe. I applied for the judge to excuse the armed policemen from the courtroom.
“The Hon. Chief Judge then ordered me to step out of the Bar, that she was sending me to prison. She then ordered the policemen to take me to Uyo prison. And that I should be in jail for one month. I am waiting inside the courtroom for them to bring the conviction warrant.
“I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be Jailed,” Inibehe Effiong wrote on his known Facebook page.
Inibehe Effiong was in court to defend another lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, who was sued by Governor Udom Emmanuel for alleged defamation.
Yet some will say the Judiciary is the last hope of common man. Where is that hope if things like this is allowed to happen. What offence had this lawyer committed? He has not committed any criminal offence, neither is his request tantamount to contempt. May God save this Nation from people who make mockery of us by their unprofessional acts.