By TINA TIMOTHY

Eminent lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, (SAN), has lamented the

worrisome travails of a human rights lawyer, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, who was remanded in a

correctional facility in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on the orders of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, for alleged contempt of court, which happened at the time of the annual long vacation of courts all over Nigeria,’ making it impossible to legally secure immediate respite for him.

Adegboruwa in a statement on Friday, August 12, 2022, said Effiong “has been at the forefront of the campaign for transparency and good governance in Akwa Ibom” and has constantly opposed corruption and corrupt practices ‘especially by officers of the government of Akwa Ibom State,’ which happened to be a reason he was in court on the day he was convicted by Justice Obot.

“On July 26, 2022, the whole nation was shocked with the news of the reported conviction of lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, by the Honourable Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State for alleged contempt of court. He was subsequently transferred to the Correctional Centre in Ikot-Ekpene, where he was remanded. This happened at the time of the annual long vacation of courts all over Nigeria, which has affected the process of securing immediate respite for him, legally.

“For all who have followed the activities of Mr. Inibehe Effiong, he has been at the forefront of the campaign for transparency and good governance in Akwa Ibom, his home State and he has been a constant opponent of corruption and corrupt practices, especially by officers of the government of Akwa Ibom State. The court case he took up is an offshoot of the spirited efforts of Mr. Inibehe Effiong to rid Akwa Ibom State of all forms of impunity and dictatorship. He accepted to defend a libel suit filed by the Governor of the State against a blogger in respect of certain allegations of corruption in relation to election cases,” Adegboruwa stated.

The senior lawyer further expressed worry and concern that he has not been able to have “a firsthand advantage of the official narration of the events of that day,” and that ‘the record of proceedings of such a short hearing cannot be made public up till now.’

He said: “I have waited to be able to have access to the record of proceedings of the Akwa Ibom State High Court of July 27, 2022, when Mr. Inibehe Effiong was convicted in order to have the opportunity of a firsthand advantage of the official narration of the events of that day, but this has not been forthcoming. I am personally worried that the lawful professional assignment of prosecution or defence of any cause on behalf of the client is leading to the conviction of a legal practitioner, especially in the circumstances of what has so far been reported.

“Although I am an advocate of mutual cooperation between the Bar and the Bench resulting from due deference to all judicial officers, the fact that the record of proceedings of such a short hearing cannot be made public up till now would seem to lend credence to the allegations of bias and high handedness on the part of the Honourable Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, for which we all expect the relevant authorities having jurisdiction over My Lord to intervene.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) also described as “inhuman and degrading” the alleged treatment meted out on Effiong while being paraded before other inmates at the correctional facility and called on relevant bodies, saying it ‘is totally unacceptable.’ While calling on the relevant authorities to investigate and prosecute the officers, Adegboruwa also called on the Akwa Ibom State government to “accord all citizens, the opportunity for the expression and enforcement of their fundamental rights,’ warning that the federal, as well as the state government, will be held accountable should anything happen to the human rights lawyer.

“The conduct of the officers of the Uyo Correctional Centre who were reported to have forcefully shaved off Mr. Effiong’s beards whilst also parading him before other inmates is totally unacceptable. Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled, under the Constitution, to freedom from all forms of inhuman and degrading treatment, freedom from torture and acts of dehumanization. I call on the relevant authorities to investigate this and bring the culprits to book.

“While we all await the steps being taken by the Nigerian Bar Association on this case, I call upon the government of Akwa Ibom State to accord all citizens the opportunity for the expression and enforcement of their fundamental rights. In this regard, Nigerians will hold the federal and Akwa Ibom State governments accountable should anything happen to Mr Effiong whilst he is custody,” he added.