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Group Calls For Immediate Release Of Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong From Jail, Seeks Punishment For Power-drunk Akwa Ibom Chief Judge

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It further described the action of the judge as “primitive and a sign of danger for young professionals such as Mr Inibehe”. 

The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) has urged the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to call for a public enquiry into the continued incarceration of Inibehe Effiong, an activist and legal practitioner, who was remanded in custody on the order of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.

A group, Lawyers Arise For Justice, earlier asked the Nigerian Bar Association to take a more resolute stand as a matter of urgency on the illegal incarceration of a human rights lawyer.

Effiong, an activist and lawyer, is serving a one-month prison sentence for alleged contempt of court after asking the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Obot, to recuse herself from a case he is handling.

Effiong, who is also the National Legal Adviser of the African Action Congress (AAC), was in court to defend Leo Ekpenyong, a lawyer, in a libel suit filed by Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom.

Meanwhile, his illegal imprisonment has attracted condemnation from civil society organisations and many Nigerians.

On August 3, the NBA said Effiong was not given a fair hearing before he was sent to prison by Obot, and the organisation threatened to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Lawyers Arise For Justice in a letter to the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, which was signed by its convener, Tope Temokun condemned the reported torture of the lawyer by prison officials.

Other lawyers who signed the statement are Samuel Ihensekhien Junior, Marshal Abubakar, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Festus Ogun, Rasheedat Akinrinde, E.D Akpala, B.C. Obilor, B.O Williams and Kariakitei Kokowei.

They called for a review of the judgment of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom on Effiong to release him from prison.

However,  RSM which also condemned the Judge’s action stated that Effiong is a victim of state brutality, stressing that they do not agree that opposition to the government under the civil rule should be resisted with such actions taken against him.

This was contained in the statement issued and signed by the group’s publicity secretary, Salako Kayode.

According to the group, it portends evil to the entire society when young people are victims of oppression and repression and are not allowed to resist.

RSM in the statement titled ‘We Call For Public Enquiry To Investigate Illegal Remand Of Inibehe In Prison’, asserted that Justice Obot did not follow due process in carrying out her actions.

According to the statement, jailing Effiong is “undemocratic” and “not civil”.

It further described the action of the judge as “primitive and a sign of danger for young professionals such as Mr Inibehe”.

“Mr Inibehe is a victim of state brutality and we will not allow it to go with questioning,” it added.

It further read, “Inibehe Effiong’s incarceration further revealed how undemocratic our society is and the level at which some individuals in posts of authority want to live a life of untouchable and unquestionable. It portends evil to the entire society when young people are victims of oppression and repression and were not allowed to resist.

“Attempt has been made by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) with the Chief Judge indicating that she was unwilling or unable to further entertain the matter.  This is arrogance and abuse of office by the Chief Judge.

“To us in the RSM no matter the conduct of Mr. Effiong in the courtroom while trying to defend his client, which is constitutional. The reality before us is also that Justice Ekaette Obot did not follow due process to carry out her actions.

“According to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Effiong was not put in the dock, told what his wrong or contempt was, given a fair hearing or even an opportunity to recant or purge himself (a courtesy that the Bench should, at the minimum, extend to counsel where counsel’s conduct is said to be contemptuous).

“This on its face not only runs afoul of known practice and procedure in such cases but is also unconstitutional.’

“We salute the NBA for intervening so far in the matter and we extend solidarity with the NBA at this period. We will continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Inibehe. We call on people of good conscience and civil society groups to join us in demanding the immediate unconditional release of Mr Effiong.

“We call on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to call for a public enquiry on this matter to investigate the injustice meted on Mr Effiong and also sanction such a political judge that determines to ruin young people’s career on the basis of political difference.”

“The RSM will continue to be in solidarity with all oppressed people. The people united can never be defeated.

“Free Inibehe Effing Now. No To Political Justice System,” the statement added.