Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community has expressed concern that the precedent set in sentencing Inibehe Effiong to prison, may adversely affect advocacy by lawyers in Akwa Ibom courts.
Last Wednesday, Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot sent human rights lawyer, Effiong to 30 days in prison for being guilty of contemptuous charge.
A press release of July 29 signed by Clifford Thomas, Esq, National Coordinator of the human rights community, lamented that since precedent has been set, human rights advocates may end up becoming victims of the process.
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‘‘Sadly, we feel strongly that advocacy by Lawyers in courts 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,’’ the statement said.
The organization in company of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, Uyo branch and other eminent members of the Bar and few lawyers met Learned Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot on the need to released the imprisoned lawyer.
As part of their resolutions, the body called for adoption of middle of the road and conciliatory approach to placate the situation without widening the chasm.
”Every court, globally, have standard operating procedures, and all advocates appearing before them must follow the set procedures. Respect must be accorded the courts;
”Applications by Motions should be taken in line with extant procedures, and the Rules of court should be followed, barring any powers of Discretion of Courts permitted by the Rules;
”No security personnel bearing arms must be allowed inside the courtroom. All armed security personnel must be stationed outside the courtroom,” the statement noted.
”Courts are sacred institutions which are also public institutions. Proceedings must be open to the public, except in special proceedings which requires privacy like in Family Court proceedings which involves a minor.
”As a public place which is open to Journalists and members of the public to observe trials and proceedings, reasonable standard protocols must be put in place to accommodate such persons.”
The statement recalled that, ”In previous proceedings on this matter, there have been series of actions which the court considered very provocative.
”The court considered the mannerisms and attitude of the Learned Counsel out of tune with the Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers;
”The current solidarity strike action of Labour which led to the beefing up of security around facilities and institutions around the Wellington Bassey Way axis of Uyo, possibly informed the heavy presence of security in the Judiciary Headquarters and in the courts.
”The alleged act of provocation may have been envisaged and anticipated;
”The presence of someone in the court who was caught recording the court’s proceedings without consent from the court, but, who was later discovered to be a Journalist with Premium Times; and who may ostensibly have been misconstrued to have ulterior motives for the video-recording. There were other Journalists in the Court Room who were taking down notes of the proceedings, too. Why was he singled out?”
The organisation, therefore, called on all who intend to intervene in this matter, to exercise restraint, saying ”This matter is very sensitive, and the best approach we suggest now, would be a conciliatory approach. There would appear to be rights on all sides, but caution is necessary.”
Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community is a network of human rights organizations, institutions, individuals and entities promoting human rights education, human rights advocacies and practice of indigenes and residents of the State, or that of indigenes residing outside the State.
