By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigerian lawyer and right activist, Inibehe Effiong who was detained on allegation of contempt of court for thirty days, has been freed. The lawyer announced this in a tweet.
Late July, Akwa Ibom State Chief Justice Ekaette Obot ordered Effiong’s detention in prison for one month.
Effiong alleged that Justice Obot sent him to prison “for defending Leo Ekpenyong in the libel suit filed by (Akwa Ibom State) Governor Udom Emmanuel.”
Shortly before his detention, he posted, “The Chief Judge of Akwa Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court,” Effiong said.
He added, “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 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.”
He left the prison in Akwa Ibom State at about 8:00am and said he was ‘incarcerated’ for saying the truth.
“I consider it an honour for me to be incarcerated for the truth,” Effiong whose detention drew wide protests said.
Effiong also said his spirit will not be broken with his incarceration.
“I am back, stronger and more determined to confront the forces of oppression and to continue to speak nothing but the hard truth to the faces of the oppressors of our people.
“I feel sorry for those who thought they can break my spirit by incarcerating me.”
Nigerian activist and presidential candidate of AAC, Omoyele Sowore was among those who condemned the detention of Effiong.
