President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has reacted to a report of popular lawyer Inibehe Effiong being jailed in Akwa Ibom by Justice Ekaette Obot.
Effiong, who shared a photo of himself in a van as he was being taken to jail alleged that he was sentenced to one month in prison after he asked the Chief Judge to remove the armed policemen in the courtroom.
Reacting to this on Thursday, July 28, Akpata said he has been in touch with the Chairman of the NBA Uyo Branch, who has mobilised his team to look into and address the issue.
Expressing hope of Effiong regaining his freedom shortly, Akpata added that they “will ontinue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities.”
The statement read;
“I received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, Inibehe Effiong, at a prison in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired 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 NBA Uyo Branch, 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.”
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