A group of lawyers, headed by human rights crusader, Femi Falana, has filed an originating summons before a Federal High Court, in Uyo, seeking to enforce the fundamental human rights of a jailed lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong.
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaette Obot, on July 27, 2022, sentenced Effiong to one-month imprisonment for contempt of court.
In the suit filed on August 15, alongside an application for an accelerated hearing against Justice Obot, the lawyers are asking the court for an order directing Obot to furnish the applicant with a copy of the judgment delivered on July 27, 2022.
Other lawyers representing Effiong include Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, who, like Falana, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); John Aikpokpo-Martins, the first vice-president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Monday Ubani, chairman of NBA-SPIDEL; NBA Welfare Secretary, Olakunle Edun, and Funmi Falana.
Others are Femi Aborishade, Taiwo Olawanle, Nsikak Akai, Augustine Asuquo, S.M. Oyeghe, E.E. Phillips, and Joseph Eleh.
Effiong, in the application, is asking the court for a declaration that he is authorized to a copy of the judgment of Akwa Ibom State High Court presided over by the defendant, who jailed him on July 27.
The applicant further prayed the court for a declaration that the refusal of the respondent to make a copy of the judgment available to him since July 27 despite repeated applications is illegal and unconditional and a violation of the Nigerian Constitution.
