Inibehe Effiong, a lawyer defending Leo Ekpenyong in the libel suit filed by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, has just been sent to Uyo prison for a month.
He was sent to Uyo prison by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot for contempt of court.
In a Twitter post on Wednesday, the lawyer said he had raised observation about the likely bias of the judge and asked that he recused himself from the case. But the court said the trial should continue.
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He also said that the judge asked journalists to leave the court to which he raised an observation that the court was a public place.
He added that he also raised concern about the presence of two armed policemen with AK47 in the courtroom and said he was not comfortable with the police presence.
He said the chief judge asked him to step out of the bar, de-robe, and sentenced him to one month in Uyo prison.
As of the time this story is being filed, he is yet to be taken to prison as he is waiting for the conviction warrant.
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His tweets: “The Chief Judge of Akwa Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court.
“I said my lord, we were thinking that since the proceeding is public, members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceeding. My Lord asked me to proceed with cross-examination.
“I obeyed. I informed the court that I was not feeling comfortable and safe having two armed mobile policemen seated inside the courtroom, that it was strange and that I felt unsafe. I applied for the judge to excuse the armed policemen from the courtroom.
“The Hon. Chief Judge then ordered me to step out of the Bar, that she was sending me to prison. She then ordered the policemen to take me to Uyo prison. And that I should be in jail for one month. I am waiting inside the courtroom for them to bring the conviction warrant.
“I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be jailed.
Meanwhile, Olumide Akpata of the Nigerian Bar Association has said that the lawyer should rest assured of the body’s support.
In a tweet, he said, “Be rest assured @InibeheEffiong that this ruling can’t stand. If they go hard, we go harder! U will be out before u know it. We will not sleep on this illegality until u regain your inalienable rights of freedom to defend your clients as per your profession! @OlumideAkpata of NBA.”
See video here
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