Nigerian Judge Allegedly Sentences Lawyer To Prison For Making A Simple Request During Court Hearing

Inibehe Effiong, a well-known attorney and activist, claims that a judge gave him a one-month prison term without reason.

The lawyer claimed that this happened at the beginning of a court session after he requested that the armed police officers present be removed from the courtroom as their presence made him feel insecure.

Effiong claimed that despite doing nothing, Justice Ekaette Obot, the chief judge of Akwa Ibom State, sentenced him to one month in jail while he was representing Leo Ekpenyong in the libel case brought by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Inibehe Effiong wrote on Twitter, “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.

“The Chief Judge of Akwa Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court. I said my lord, we were thinking that since the proceeding is public, that members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceeding. My Lord asked me to proceed with cross-examination.

“I obeyed. I informed the court that I was not feeling comfortable and safe having two armed mobile policemen seated inside the courtroom, that it was strange and that I felt unsafe. I applied for the judge to excuse the armed policemen from the courtroom.

“The Hon. Chief Judge then ordered me to step out of the Bar, that she was sending me to prison. She then ordered the policemen to take me to Uyo prison. And that I should be in jail for one month. I am waiting inside the courtroom for them to bring the conviction warrant.

“I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be jailed.

“Meanwhile, there is 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.”