CSOs demands release of A’Ibom rights lawyer
• Describes imprisonment as intimidation
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in Nigeria, in conjunction with friends of Inibehe Effiong, yesterday, protested against continued incarceration of the human rights lawyer and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Recall that Effiong was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment by the Chief Judge (CJ) of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, on July 27, 2022, for contempt of court.
The spokesperson of the coalition, Enefaa Georgewill, while speaking with newsmen, said the CJ’s action was an attempt to subdue lawyers, so as to silence them anytime they have case against any powerful individual in the society.
“We are calling on the CJ to reverse herself; we are demanding immediate release of Effiong, and we are equally calling on lawyers and litigants not to stand and watch.
“This is a ploy to intimidate lawyers and silence them so that when you have any case against the rich, a governor, or anybody in power, you will be scared. So, this fight is not just about Effiong. It is the fight for the soul of democracy.”
He condemned the way and manner the lawyer was committed to prison, adding that from the accounts of what happened, the CJ acted premeditatedly.
“We, as civil society, believe in sanctity of the court and we equally believe that only justice can pave way for any democratic society. Specifically, the way Effiong was sent to prison speaks doom for the judiciary.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had said that even if Effiong was wrong, due process was not followed in his case.
“From all accounts from both parties, especially the media, what happened was premeditated. In our years of going to court, judge orderlies, most of the time, are not armed, except carrying pistols in some cases. But on that fateful day, two mobile policemen, with AK-47, were inside the court. This shows that these things were planned.”
Also speaking, the Coordinator, Coalition of Friends, Family, Colleagues For Inibehe Effiong, Mr. Jonathan Abang-Ugal, said they have heard different perspectives of what transpired, noting that their concern was for Effiong to be released as the judiciary would go on vacation as from tomorrow.
In his remarks, a journalist and activist, Mr. Ofonime expressed disappointment with the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko, whom he claimed had labelled the group as miscreants for protesting the release of Effiong.
“I am the convener of the rights group called ‘Citizen Liberation Movement.’ This is the second protest, and by doing this, we are not bullying the court. We are only asking for the release of Effiong. I wish to react to the trending video clip release by the former Attorney General, where he described us as miscreants.
“Peaceful demonstration is enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria. He labelled us miscreants and even threatened that he will slam allegation of contempt of court against us. We wish to tell him that we are not miscreants in this group. I am a journalist, we have lawyers in this group,” he said.
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