Former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko SAN, has slammed those calling for the release of human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong describing Mr. Effiong’s conviction as proper.
The Senior Advocate in a reaction to newsmen stated that Effiong’s conviction “is a result of an act of lack of mentorship.”
Mr. Inibehe Effiong, was sentenced to one month at the Correctional Center in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state by the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, had accused Mr. Effiong of disrespect and subsequently sentenced for contempt.
Reacting further Nwoko, SAN, also criticized protests and steps taken to challenge the decision of the Akwa-Ibom court noting that the CJ is functus officio, and as such any such redress can only be made to the Court of Appeal and no more. Nwoko also condemned comments made by the NBA President, Olumide Akpata over the detention of Inibehe.
“I don’t know whether the President (Olumide Akpata) read the release himself because I don’t expect the President of the Nigerian Bar to urge a Judge, who convicted somebody to turn round and release that person after that Judge has become functus officio.
“There is a procedure within our jurisprudence, a person that is not satisfied has the right to appeal… It is rather unexpected and below the expectation of a person of such high office to say that the Chief Judge should have released Inibehe, who is a convict of” the learned silk noted.
Inibehe Effiong is not in detention, he is serving a prison term. He is a victim of lack of mentorship. Since he left law school, he has not been mentored by anybody. He has not learnt the very simple act of telling the Court as the court pleases. So where he is now is for him to learn how to say as the court pleases. Lawyers don’t argue or quarrel with the Court. Lawyers don’t insult the Bench.
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Nwoko maintained that, the leadership of the NBA needs to give address the calls from the Body of Benchers to check unguarded utterances including insults and rude comments by junior lawyers.
