The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mr. Olumide Akpata has assured that Inibehe Effiong who was committed to one month imprisonment for contempt in facia curia by the Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge will soon be released.
In a statement issued by Mr. Akpata, he said that while the NBAthe will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass its members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities, it would also not condone acts of indiscipline and insubordination against judicial officers members no matter the provocation.
The statement reads in part:
I received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, Inibehe Effiong, at a correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired during proceedings in the court of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.
Since receiving this news, I have been in touch with the Chairman of the NBA Uyo Branch who has mobilised his team to look into and address this. This morning, I have also mandated the NBA 1st Vice President to visit Uyo immediately to join the ongoing efforts and ensure the release of Mr. Effiong. The NBA is therefore on top of this, and I am confident that Mr. Effiong will regain his freedom shortly.
While not going into the merits of this particular matter yet, suffice it to say that the NBA is strongly opposed to, and will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities.
The NBA will also not condone acts of indiscipline and insubordination against judicial officers from our members no matter the provocation. Ours is a rule-based profession and there is a procedure for airing grievances. The NBA 1st Vice President will also conduct fact finding investigation to determine what transpired and recommend next steps.