BREAKING: Akwa Ibom Chief Judge jails Human Rights lawyer for defending Leo Ekpenyong

UYO – Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Justice Ekaete Obot has jailed a Human Rights Lawyer, Barrister Inibehe Effiong for one month at the Uyo Correctional Center for being rude.

The incident few minutes the Judge walked into Court Room with battery of armed mobile policemen on Wednesday.

Inibehe Effiong, Counsel to one Barrister Leo Ekpenyong, Abuja based legal practitioner who was in legal suit against the State Governor, Udom Emmanuel over defamation.

But, Justice Ekaette Obot ordered that Inibehe Effiong would use the correctional facility to purge himself of insolence and dishonorable acts that tend to bring the court to disrepute.

The Court had sat in the case of libel by Governor Udom Emmanuel against Mr Leo Ekpenyong on its last day for the prosecution to end its case.

Barr. Effiong had constantly been causing the State Chief Judge of being biased, asking her to recuse herself from handling the case.

Speaking on the decision of the court, Counsel to Governor Emmanuel, Samuel Ikpo said he was shocked that, Barr. Effiong could utter damning and profane utterances against the judge.

“I believe that when he comes out of the correctional facility, he will learn how to conduct himself before a court.

He wondered why Inibehe could disobey an order given to him by the judge, who asked him to take off his wig and step aside from the bar and he choose to remain obstinate.

“A lawyer should not allow himself to use one client to destroy his reputation before all the judges.

“I think Justice Obot has really been patient with him all these while, even as a lawyer, I could not tolerate the young lawyer’s conduct”. Barr Ikpo stated.

However, the embattled human rights lawyer, Effiong in a swift reaction to the judge’s behavior said, he told the judge he was not comfortable and safe having two armed mobile policemen seated inside the court room.

He said, the practice was strange as he felt unsafe.

According to Barrister Inibehe Effiong, “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”.

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