Akwa Ibom Chief Justice Reportedly Sends Human Rights Lawyer To Jail

A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has raised the alarm about being sent to prison by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot.

In a series of tweets on his verified handle on Wednesday, Effiong revealed he was in court on a suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel against a lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, for alleged defamation.

He said, “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.”

Effiong added that there was “Already a pending application for recusal asking the Hon. Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, to recuse Himself. We filed it since 23rd June, 2022.

The motion is still pending.”

Reacting to the action of the Akwa Ibom CJN, Richard Akinnola II recalled that Justice Ligali Ayorinde, then Acting Chief Judge of Lagos State had in a similar manner sentenced Gani Fawehinmi to jail for 12 months for contempt.

Gani’s offence? He asked, like Inibehe Effiong did today before Justice Ekaette Obot, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom state, that Justice Ayorinde should recuse himself from the defamation case against him by Col. Haliru Akilu and Lt-Col. A.K. Togun and transfer the case to another judge.

The same prayer Inibehe made today which the Chief Judge did not consider before things went awry.

Gani’s imprisonment was overturned by the Court of Appeal. Today’s charade would similarly, definitely not stand. Enough of abuse of judicial powers.

Today, Justice Ayorinde is no more but his judicial infamy would not be obliterated.

It was this same Justice Ayorinde who described military rulers as “Kabiyesi”(a king) whose orders must be complied with. Those of us who are legal historians would also document this. This too shall pass.

Credit: Twitter | InibeheEffiong and Richard Akinnola II
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