Inibehe Effiong released from prison after 30 days in custody

Inibehe Effiong, human rights lawyer, on Friday, was released from the Uyo correctional centre in Akwa Ibom state.

On July 27, Effiong was sent to prison by Ekaette Obot, chief judge of Akwa Ibom state, after the lawyer reportedly protested against the presence of armed policemen in court.

Effiong was in court to defend Leo Ekpenyong, a lawyer, in a libel suit filed by Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom.

Many Nigerians, including civil society organisations (CSOs), had called for his release.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had said Effiong was not given fair hearing before he was sent to prison by Obot, and the organisation threatened to write a petition against the judge at the National Judicial Council (NJC).

On Friday, Effiong was released from Uyo prison after he had spent 30 days in custody.

The lawyer was welcomed by a crowd of supporters and activists immediately after he was released.

In a Facebook post, the lawyer said he is now determined to confront the forces of opppression, adding that he feels sorry for those who think his spirit can be broken with incarceration.

“I am back, stronger and more determined to confront the forces of oppression and to continue to speak nothing but the hard truth to the faces of the oppressors of our people. I feel sorry for those who thought they can break my spirit by incarcerating me,” he wrote