SERAP Demands Release of Human Rights Lawyer, Effiong, Jailed By Judge for Defending Client 

Inibehe Effiong

By Our Reporter

The Socio and Economic Rights and Accountability Project  (SERAP) has asked the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, to immediately and unconditionally release lawyer Inibehe Effiong sent to jail while in court representing his client.
Recall that Inibehe Effiong was sent to jail for one month by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot.
The human rights lawyer was handed the prison time after appearing before the judge to defend his client in a libel suit filed by the state governor, Udom Emmanuel.
He tweeted: “I have just been sent to Uyo prison by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, for one month for defending Leo Ekpenyong in the libel suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“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, that 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 given 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.”
SERAP, in a statement on it’s Twitter handle said the decision of the Justice Ekaette Obot to jail a lawyer for doing his job violates local and international laws.
The statement reads: “Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel must immediately and unconditionally release lawyer Inibehe Effiong who has reportedly been sent to Uyo prison while in court representing his client against the governor. We’ll see in court if Effiong is not immediately released.
“Sending a lawyer to prison simply for representing his client in court is a blatant violation of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“Lawyers should never be arrested or detained for representing their clients in court or identifying with their clients’ causes, not even when handling a libel case instituted by a state governor.”