Imprisonment Of Lawyer Effiong: NBA Reacts; Says It Would Resist Intimidation

By Uche Mbah

The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA,  has reacted to the imprisonment  of a Lagos based Lawyer, Inebehe Effiong in Uyo on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

Effiong, a Lagos-based Lawyer had gone to Uyo to defend his Client, Leo Ekpenyong, another Lawyer, in a libel case instituted against him by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.

Two things apparently led to his imprisonment, for one month, by the Chief Judge of the State, Honourable Justice Ekaette Obot, in charge of the case.

First, Effiong had protested when Obot sent a Reporter from Premier Times out of the Court. Second, he had protested the presence of two armed Mobile Policemen in the Court, apparently, attached to the Chief Judge. He said he neither felt safe nor comfortable with their presence.

Angered by such petulance, Obot sent Effiong to Prison for one month.

But in a release by the Nigeria Bar Association’s President, Olumide  Akpata, titled “Re: Detention of Mr. Inibehe Effiong In Akwa Ibom State,” the NBA said it is on top of the situation.

Said the release: “I have received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, Inibehe Effiong, at a Correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired on Wednesday 27 July 2022 during proceedings in the court of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.

“Since receiving this news, I have been in touch with the Chairman of the Uyo Branch of NBA who has mobilised his team to look into and address this.

“This morning, I have also mandated the NBA 1st Vice President to visit Uyo immediately to join the ongoing efforts and ensure the release of Mr. Effiong.

“The NBA is, therefore, on top of this, and I am confident that Mr. Effiong will regain his freedom shortly.

“While not going into the merits of this particular matter yet, suffice it to say that the NBA is strongly opposed to, and will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities.

“The NBA will also not condone acts of indiscipline and insubordination against Judicial officers from our members no matter the provocation. Ours is a rule-based profession and there is a procedure for airing grievances.

“The NBA 1st Vice President will also conduct fact finding investigation to determine what transpired and recommend next steps.”