Some lawyers in Akwa Ibom State have thrown their weight behind the suit instituted by the detained human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, against the chief judge of the state, Justice Ekaette Obot.
A practising lawyer in the state, Barrister Ogunbiyi Oluwajuwon, who described the action as the right approach in the right direction, said, “Inibehe has every right to approach the court to seek legal redress to enforce his rights.”
Another lawyer, Clifford Thomas, said he (Effiong) has the right just like any other person to sue the CJ or any other person to enforce his rights.
Effiong, who is currently serving a 30-day jail term at the Uyo Correctional facility for alleged contempt of court, had sued Justice Obot for her refusal to furnish him with his conviction order and copies of court proceedings.
He prayed the Federal High Court in Uyo to order Justice Obot to furnish him with a copy of the July 27 judgment, which condemned him to 30 days’ imprisonment.
Effiong, in a suit marked FHC/UY/FHR/170/22, filed through his team of counsel led by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, alleged that the CJ had ignored his repeated applications.
The suit, which was filed alongside an application for accelerated hearing and which has Justice Obot as the sole respondent, seeks the enforcement of his fundamental human rights to a fair hearing.
