The group joined others in calling for the release of Barrister Inibehe Effiong who was sentenced to 30 days jail term for alleged contempt of court by the Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Ekaette Obot last Wednesday, said a dangerous precedent has been set, stressing that human rights advocates may end up becoming victims of the process.
The Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community on Monday disclosed that lawyers in the state may no longer feel very free to do their advocacy freely.
The group joined others in calling for the release of Barrister Inibehe Effiong who was sentenced to 30 days jail term for alleged contempt of court by the Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Ekaette Obot last Wednesday, said a dangerous precedent has been set, stressing that human rights advocates may end up becoming victims of the process.
This was contained in a statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Barrister Clifford Thomas, on Monday, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The group condemned the Chief Justice’s summary decision to jail the lawyer, saying that his group was working with the Nigerian Bar Association and other Civil Society Organisations to intensify efforts to secure Inibehe’s release.
Thomas said, “We have resolved that we should adopt a middle-of-the-road approach to see how best to placate the situation without necessarily widening the chasm further. Every court globally has standard operating procedures, and all advocates appearing must follow them.
“We call on all who intend to intervene in this matter to exercise restraint. This matter is very sensitive, and the best approach would be a reconciliatory approach. There would appear to be rights on all sides, but caution is necessary.
“Sadly, we feel strongly that advocacy by lawyers in Akwa Ibom state would be greatly impacted. Lawyers may no longer feel very free to do their advocacy freely. A precedent has been set, and human rights advocates may end up becoming victims of the process May God help the legal profession.”
Also, according to him, allowing armed security officers in courtrooms during sessions is dangerous as it could instil fear in the minds of lawyers, thereby suppressing their advocacies.
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Obot, had sent human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, to one-month imprisonment for asking her to recuse herself from a libel suit filed against a fellow lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, by the state governor, Udom Emmanuel.
SaharaReporters learnt that Obot who allowed armed policemen wielding AK-47 rifles into the courtroom on Wednesday, June 27, threatened to jail Effiong for accusing her of being biased and asking her to recuse herself from the case.
Udom Emmanuel had sued Ekpenyong for defamation of character over a publication in which he accused the governor of “buying judgment” from the 2019 National Assembly Election Tribunal.
In a motion on notice filed by Ekpenyong’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, he had asked Justice Obot to reassign the case to a neutral judge.
But the events took another turn on Wednesday morning when the Chief Judge surprisingly ordered that Effiong be thrown behind bars.
In a live Facebook video, the human rights lawyer last Wednesday said, “We were in court this morning and the atmosphere was very hostile. Immediately my Lord, the chief judge came in, she ordered some armed policemen with AK-47s to come into the courtroom.
“And then the policemen came in; I kept quiet. The proceedings started and then I reminded the court that we had a motion for recusal, asking the Chief Judge to recuse herself from the matter on the grounds of likelihood of bias.
“And then the court said we should go ahead with the trial and while we were at the court, journalists were asked to leave the place and I simply said, ‘My lord, it’s an open court and we are expecting that anyone who wants to observe proceedings should observe it.
“I also said, My lord, I don’t feel comfortable, having armed policemen inside the court; that I have never seen armed policemen inside the court; that it made me feel uncomfortable, threatened and they could be outside.’
“And My lord ordered me to stay out of the bar, ordered me to de-robe and said she is committing me to prison for one month for raising an observation that armed policemen should not be in the courtroom. I am waiting for the conviction warrant. I am going to Uyo prison from here. I think it is also an opportunity to see people that are there. So, we will see how this goes. I just want everyone to see what has been happening.”
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that Nigerian Bar Association was pushing Inibehe Effiong to apologise to Ekaette Obot before he could be released from prison.
Effiong is also the National Legal Adviser of the African Action Congress (AAC).
According to the AAC governorship candidate in the state, Iboro Otu, the leadership of the NBA has asked Effiong to “purge himself” by apologising so he can be released on the same day.
“The state chairman of NBA just called me a moment ago. He’s talking about an arrangement where Inibehe has to purge himself by apologizing and he can be released same day. I told him that wasn’t possible and we can’t be part of that arrangement in any form or manner. And that Inibehe has already anticipated this move and expressed himself to me about that yesterday in very clear words. NO. NEVER!
“It seems the bar bench are looking to go see him tomorrow and discuss same with him, I told them it’s a waste of everyone’s time.
“He advised me to go see the bar bench members tomorrow 12pm before they leave for the prisons at the NBA office, I told them I could do that as a sign that we have exhausted all diplomacy and they can’t do anything else from their ends cuz Inibehe cannot apologize for what he didn’t do plus someone has to be held accountable for the illegal way he was rounded up and committed to prison,” he said on Monday.
AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore also confirmed the move by the NBA.
“#FreeInibeheEffiongNow @OlumideAkpata & the men in charge of @NigBarAssoc are trying to throw rights lawyer @InibeheEffiong under the bus by asking him to accept his unjust sentence, “purge” himself of contempt & apologise to his traducers in exchange for freedom. He rejects it!” he posted on Twitter.
Inibehe Effiong on Sunday said he had been having a good night’s rest in prison. Effiong said this on Sunday when Otu and other stakeholders of the party visited him.