As rights lawyer Effiong Inibehe purges himself of contempt at the Uyo Correctional Centre, where he was recently moved from the Ikot Epene prison, his fans and sympathisers are protesting the Justice Ekatette Obot’s high-handedness.
The State Chief Judge committed the lawyer to prison 15 days ago during the defamatory suit trial the state governor, Emmanuel Udoh, brought against the lawyer’s client Leo Ekpeyong.
Many Civil Society Organisations, lawyers and other members of the public have condemned the judgement, pointing out the lawyer was denied fair hearing.
Inibehe pointed the attention of the justice to the presence of armed police men in the court; he also reminded her of his earlier request for her to recuse herself form the case; and he raised an observation of the court decision to send out some journalists from the court.
Justice Obot then ordered him to derobe, and surrender himself to be led to prison where he would purge himself of contempt.