Groups back A’Ibom CJ, warn Falana to shun legal battle to free jailed lawyer.
By Isaac Jacob
Akwa groups under the aegis of Afigh Iwaad Ekid and Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance have backed the state Chief Judge Justice Ekaette Obot for committing Human Rights Lawyer Inibehe Effiong to one-month imprisonment in the state.
The groups also warned famous Lagos Human Right Activist Femi Falana to steer clear and withdraw from the appeal case against the judgement of Akwa Ibom Chief Judge in an attempt to free the jailed lawyer.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Friday, the International President of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Obong Iwaad Etiene Bob described the attitude of the jailed lawyer Inibehe Effiong as ” legal rascality” not required in a courtroom atmosphere adding that the Chief Judge was right for sending him to prison to serve as a deterrent to other lawyers.
“We admire Barrister Inibehe Effiong as a young brilliant lawyer that has a future. If he can calm down and do his job more ‘articulately’ and with serious respect for people who have been before him. No very intelligent or outspoken legal practitioner or Activist will succeed without showing respect to leaders. And this respect must be earned.
” When we look at the content of this particular incident, we found out that Inibehe Effiong has made a lot of mistakes. So we need to call on the public because we have heard that people are going on protests and all what not.
“But we seemed not to see that they understand the reason why the decision to imprison him was taken by the Judge.
“Therefore we want people to understand that whatever they see now, having strangers now coming to Akwa Ibom to determine issues in our judiciary system is not acceptable. ”
Apparently referring to Lagos-based Human Right Lawyer Femi Falana, the International President of Afigh Iwaad Ekid – socio cultural group in the state Obong Etiene Bob described Falana as an interloper who just want to meddle in the state affairs to gain more popularity
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He observed that the best thing to do was to appeal against the judgement instead of attacking the honourable Chief Judge who had discharged her duty diligently by not allowing the temple of Justice to be desecrated.
“I think Falana has misfired in terms of his prayers at the Federal High court and his threat to report the Chief Judge to the National Judicial Council (NJC). I don’t think the CJ has made any mistake. In fact, when I heard of the judgement I felt for Inibehe because of his recalcitrant posture in the court that day ” he said
Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Research and Documentation Mr Essien Ndueso has exonerated the state Chief Judge Justice Ekaette Obot from allegation of refusal to release the Certified True Copy of the court proceedings where Inibehe Effiong was committed to jail.
In a media briefing with Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance on Friday, the governor’s Aide said the allegations of the Judge’s refusal to release the court proceedings was in the imagination of the speculators.
Governor Emmanuel’s Aide disclosed that the court proceeding has been released adding that the public is aware of court processes adding that the chief Judge was not the cause of the delay but should blame it on established court procedures.
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