The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has joined human rights groups in the country in demanding immediate release of human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong jailed by Justice Ekaette Obot, the Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge.
The judge incarcerated Effiong for one month over alleged ‘contempt’ of court.
Many human rights have protested and demanded release of Effiong who has served more than 22 days in prison.
In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, berated the Chief Judge for incarcerating the lawyer, arguing that the fundamental principle of justice presumed that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty.
Read also
- Jailed Inibehe Effiong drags Akwa Ibom Chief Judge to Court
- Groups Protest and Demand Unconditional Release of Inibehe Effiong
- Chief Judge Sentences Lawyer to Prison- Effiong alleges
“While we recuse ourselves from interrogating the merit or otherwise of the contemptuous acts that led to the sentencing of Mr Inibehe Effiong, we are guided by moral unction which instructs restraint in the exercise of the mighty powers reposed in the state and its institutions of authority.
“Unfortunately, the treatment of Mr Inibehe Effiong since the commencement of the defamatory case against his client appears to violate the morality of the natural instinct to protect the weak and vulnerable against the mighty and powerful.
“The ordeal of Mr Effiong also appears to portray him as an accessory to the crime allegedly committed by his client. This burden becomes heavier given that the order to remand Mr Effiong to a correctional facility even while the case is still under trial came from the state Chief Judge who sits on the case. Clearly, the events surrounding this case make no pretence that Mr Effiong is up and against the mighty and powerful.
“In the pursuit of justice which must not only be served but always seen to have been served fairly, we call on the Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge to be circumspect in her handling of the case which Mr Inibehe Effiong is defending considering that his client, Mr Leo Ekpenyong made damning allegations against the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Emmanuel Udom,” Wabba said.
Wabba demanded that Justice Obot recuse herself from presiding over the case and assign the case file to another Judge to restore confidence in the case that Effiong is representing.
“We also find it curious that Mr Effiong’s lawful request for the order of the court proceedings that sentenced him to be released was denied more than twenty days after he had filed for the release even when the law provides that such a request should be granted after seven days.
“In order to restore confidence in the case that Mr Effiong is representing, especially given the bad blood that now exists between the trial judge and the defendant’s counsel, it is best that Justice Ekaette Obot recuse herself from presiding over the case and assign the case file to another judge.”
The labour union affirms its responsibility to protect the integrity of the judiciary as it is the last hope of the common man and woman.
Straightnews had published that Effiong, a human rights lawyer, was handling a case for Leo Ekpenyong another human rights lawyer whom the court ordered to pay N1.5 billion to Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel in a defamation case before the judge sent him to prison.
Meanwhile, Inibehe Effiong has sued Justice Ekaette Obot, seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights to liberty and a fair hearing.
The legal team led by Femi Falana, SAN, and 11 other lawyers filed the suit numbered FHC/UY/FGR/120/2022 at the Federal High Court, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Parts of the originating summons read, “Sequel to the continuous refusal by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State to release copies of the proceedings together with the order convicting the human rights activist, Barr. Effiong made since 27th of July, 2022, in compliance with section 36(7) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended despite a repeated application to that effect, we were forced to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit yesterday at the Federal High Court in Suit No:FHC/UY/FHR/170/2022 against this flagrant impunity in the system in order for my Lord to be compelled to comply with the extant laws of our land.
“It’s beyond imagination to see that the wilful refusal to release copies of the said proceedings has precariously affected and frustrated all material efforts made by Inibehe’s legal team to appeal against his conviction, including his release from the prison custody.
“By provision of section 36(7) of the Constitution cited above, the court is under duty to produce its order, judgment or proceedings within seven days of making same.”
Obot releases Certified True Copy of Judgment after 7 days
However, Obot, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, has finally released the record of proceedings in a case in which she committed the human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, to prison for alleged contempt.
The document was released on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after the incarcerated lawyer filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Uyo, asking the court to compel Mrs Obot to release it.
Mr Effiong, in the suit, said Mrs Obot had refused to furnish him with the court proceedings despite repeated applications.
Femi Falana, counsel to Mr Effiong, had said the judge’s refusal to furnish the plaintiff with the document seven days after the case was unconstitutional and also violated his client’s right to appeal.
Mr Effiong was committed to 30 days in prison on July 27.
The matter is not yet mentioned for hearing in the court.
