*Reacts To Committal of Inibehe Effiong, Calls On CJ To Rescind Committal Order And Recuse From Matter
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The Chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum has described recent happenings in Nigeria’s legal profession as unsavoury, saying these are not the best times for the legal profession in Nigeria.
He made the remark on the behalf of the Forum in a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer in reaction to the viral report of the committal of a human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong yesterday by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom state, and the controversial letter of the NBA President, Olumide Akpata urging the Chairman, Body of Benchers to step aside for the trial of a Partner in his firm.
In the statement, the EBF Chair called on the Chief Judge to Akwa Ibom, Ekaette Obot to immediately rescind her committal order as well as recuse herself from the said matter to instill confidence of fairness in the case.
He likewise called on the Chairman, Body of Benchers, Wole Olanipekun SAN, to step aside from his office to save the august body from embarrassment.
The statement reads in full:
IN THE MATTERS OF INIBEHE EFFIONG AND CHIEF WOLE OLANIPEKUN, SAN
It is not the best of times for the legal profession in Nigeria.
Yesterday, at a hastily relocated venue due to the pervading state of insecurity in Nigeria, 1507 candidates were admitted to the noble profession at a ceremony presided over by a Chairman of the Body of Benchers with grave integrity issues hanging over his head.
Yesterday also, east of the Niger, a learned presiding Chief Judge wielded the ultimate judicial hammer and clamped a learned colleague Inibehe Effiong into prison for daring to raise procedural issues in a politically sensitive case involving the Akwa Ibom State governor, in which her impartiality had been called to question by way of a properly filed and served application for recusal/transfer.
These incidents leave a sour taste in the mouth.
The EBF calls on the Honourable Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State to take another look at the matter, rescind her committal order immediately and transfer the pending case to another court so that justice may not only be done but also be seen to have been done.
The EBF also calls on the Chairman of the Body of Benchers to save that august institution and the legal profession further embarrassment and opprobrium by stepping aside while issues pertaining to his integrity and that of his eponymous office is being dealt with. There can be no better way to lead by example.
Chief Uba Anene
Chairman, EBF Governing Council.
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