NBA President, Olumide Akpata, writes:

Last week, I provided an update on the efforts being made by the @NigBarAssoc towards securing the release of our colleague, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, who was remanded in custody on the order of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State on account of alleged contemptuous conduct in court.

Unfortunately, attempts to secure Mr. Effiong’s release through sustained engagements at different levels have been unsuccessful with the Chief Judge indicating that she was unwilling or unable to further entertain the matter.

In the circumstance, the NBA is left with no choice but to work on an appeal against the decision of Her Lordship, and I have instructed the NBA team to work with Mr. Effiong on an immediate appeal.

This is not the outcome that we had expected because there is a high chance that Mr. Effiong would serve out his one-month custodial term before the end of the appeal.

Regardless of the conduct of Mr. Effiong in the courtroom on the date of the proceedings that led to his committal, one thing that has come out from the various accounts that the NBA has so far received is that the Court did not follow due process in the committal proceedings.

Mr. Effiong was not put in the dock, told what his wrong or contempt was, given fair hearing or even an opportunity to recant or purge himself (a courtesy that the Bench should, at the minimum, extend to counsel where counsel’s conduct is said to be contemptuous).

This on its face not only runs afoul of known practice and procedure in such cases but is also unconstitutional. In view of the foregoing and depending on the outcome of our ongoing investigations, the NBA may be forced to take this matter up with the National Judicial Council.

https://twitter.com/OlumideAkpata/status/1554769939336159233?t=X9Y_ffaY82SPOabzsZn78g&s=08

Make them leave grammar abeg

Jokes thrives in every sector in My country.

Nigerian leaders are selected from Nigerians like this Judge. So how do we get good leaders when our values as citizens have gone to the dogs?

He is to spend 1month in prison.. tell me u just woke up half way to his jail term ..very funny country..

Anyways do the necessary to ensure rule of law

Welcome to Nigeria

H

Power corrupt and absolute power corrupt absolutely -Thomas Jefferson

This woman wan use her Family problem finish this guy

Nothing happens constitutionally again in Nigeria

We are following

600 years of suffering to all Urchins

Pure case of injustice

I don't know why I like Inibehe Effiong.

I don't know why if power is given to woman.she behaves as if she is the only one on this earth. Very annoying creatures.if they have money more than you. Problem.if you have more than them problem. Very funny

Injustise

Noted.

THIS IS A SAD DEVELOPMENT. AND A TEST FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION

When Kemi was remanded in Port Harcourt prison Nigerians kept quiet because they hated her forgetting that freedom is indivisble

As a lawyer, remember you're not above the law

From the message he seems to have been clearly rude to the judge

And she wouldn't be disrespected in her own court just cos you're one high flying lawyer. Of course she should follow due process too in remanding him

Hmmm

Our judiciary is worst than our legislature. Funny power drunk criminals.

Ok