A Non-Governmental Organisation, ‘Nude Nigeria-The Best Man,’ in collaboration with Next-of-Kin to late Primary School teachers and some concerned youths of Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, took to the streets to protest the prolonged incarceration of human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.
The PUNCH reports that the Chief judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, on July 27, 2022, ordered the lawyer’s remand for contempt.
However, the protesters, who displayed placards with inscriptions such as: “Injury to one is injury to all”, “Free Inibehe Effiong Now!”, “Justice for Inibehe Effiong,” and “We demand immediate release of Inibehe” called on to the CJ to immediately release the lawyer.
Addressing newsmen during the joint protest in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the convener of ‘Nude Nigeria-The Best Man’, Princess Mikki Attah, expressed disappointment over the continued incarceration of Effiong whom she described as a law-abiding citizen
She said she decided to join other voices in calling for Effiong’s release after reading in the media how Effiong was sent to jail for asking the CJ to send security men out of the courtroom, adding that this had actually attracted her organisation’s attention because it is concerned with societal issues including street children.
“We are here because of the continued incarceration of Effiong, a legal practitioner and a law-abiding citizen of the Nigerian society, who has been held in prison custody for contempt of court.
“We didn’t know that he would be kept in prison till today. Today is the 10th day he was sent to jail. So we are here to demand and to appeal for his unconditional release,” she appealed.
Also speaking, the Youth President of Itu LGA, Mr. Ubong Akpan, said they were particularly worried that Inibehe was not given an opportunity to defend himself before he was sent to jail.
He expressed strong believe that after the peaceful protest, the Chief Judge would listen to their demand and effect the release of their kinsman, Effiong, from prison soon.
Similarly, the spokesperson, Next-of-Kin to late primary school teachers in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Benjamin Benson, explained that they were concerned because Effiong had stood by them since 2017 when some of their members were arrested.
He said, “We are here partnering the the NGO, “Nude Nigeria” to advocate for the unconditional release of Effiong, who was sent to jail by the Chief Judge.
“It is worthy to note that Effiong had been our lawyer. When we were arrested in 2017 by the state government, nobody came for us, it was only Effiong that took up our matter free of charge and worked until he ensured we were released.
“Apart from that, Effiong raised over a million naira for three widows that were dying. So as a group, he means a lot to us. He is very vocal as far as human rights issue is concerned. That is why we are here, to appeal that he should immediately be released from prison.”
