“The NBA is therefore on top of this (matter), and I am confident that Mr. Effiong will regain his freedom shortly.”
By Saidu Idris
365Daily – President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has said that his office is looking into the imprisonment of one of its members, Inibehe Effiong, who was sentenced to one month imprisonment, on allegation of contempt of the court.
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Uyo, the state capital, ordered that Effiong should be locked up in Uyo Correctional facility for one month.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 28, 2022, Akpata said he received the news of the imprisonment with great concern and has begum moves to effect the release of the embattled lawyer.
The NBA president said, “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.”
He further said that the NBA’s 1st Vice President has been sent to Uyo on fact finding investigation to determine what transpired and recommend next steps.
The statement read: “I have received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, Inibehe Effiong, at a correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired on Wednesday 27 July 2022 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 Uyo Branch of NBA 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.”