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Delay of libel suit against Ekpeyong regrettable – Cleric
A cleric with African Church in Uyo Akwa Ibom State, Rev Richard Peters has described as regrettable the delay which the libel suit against Barr Leo Ekpenyong instituted by Governor Udom Emmanuel has suffered.
The libel suit was halted following the one month incarceration of the defence counsel, Inibehe Effiong, who was convicted for contempt by the Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot.
Though the Chief Judge has come under severe criticisms for her action even as Femi Falana, SAN dragged her to the Federal High Court, some persons have also backed the Chief Judge at least to restore sanity and sanctity to the court, which they claimed the convicted lawyer violated.
Rev Peters, who is also the Special Assistant to Gov Emmanuel in a statement on Sunday, said after dispassionate investigations, he was of the opinion that the chief Judge has not only done the right thing but has restored the sanctity and sanity of the court describing as ridiculous the recent protest and ongoing criticism of the CJ.
According to him, “The continuous delay of the libel suit instituted against Bar Leo Ekpeyong by Governor Udom Emmanuel is regrettable. Those heating up Akwa Ibom polity should steer clear and allow peace to reign and the law to take full course.
”Being a lawyer or a social critic does not confer anymore immunity from prosecution or incarceration when they run afoul of the laws of the land and people going on the street to protest lawful judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction rather than going for appeal are on a wild goose chase” they opined.
” Again I must say that those who have criticised the action of the Chief Judge are merely guided by sentiment and have failed woefully to take critical and cursory look at the behavioral disposition of the young lawyer over time with his attitude towards his senior learned colleagues and Judges especially the Chief Judge since he took over the Leo Ekpeyong’s case”.
