By A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has alleged that the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Ekaette Obot ordered his remand during court proceedings.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Effiong revealed that the case before the court was a libel suit filed by Akwa Ibom governor, Udom Emmanuel, against a lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong.
The lawyer, who was in court to defend his colleague, also said the judge ordered a reporter to leave the courtroom.
He wrote, “The Chief Judge of Akwa Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court. I said my lord, we were thinking that since the proceeding is public, that members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceeding. My Lord asked me to proceed with cross examination.”
“I obeyed. I informed the court that I was not feeling comfortable and safe having two armed mobile policemen seated inside the courtroom, that it was strange and that I felt unsafe. I applied for the judge to excuse the armed policemen from the courtroom.
“The Hon. Chief Judge then ordered me to step out of the Bar, that she was sending me to prison. She then ordered the policemen to take me to Uyo prison. And that I should be in jail for one month. I am waiting inside the courtroom for them to bring the conviction warrant.
“I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be jailed.
“This is in the suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel against a lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, for alleged defamation.”
Effiong further revealed that after he applied to the court to ask the armed policemen to leave the courtroom, the judge wrote a committal order to send him to Uyo prison.
“I wasn’t even given the opportunity to say anything. My Lord just ordered me to remove my wig and gown, that I was going to prison,” he added.
“Meanwhile, we have a pending motion for my Lord to disqualify and recuse himself from the case on grounds of bias or likelihood of bias which. Justice will vindicate the just.”
