“Failure Of Akwa Ibom CJ To Produce Record Of Proceedings Leading To Inibehe’s Conviction Gives Credence To Allegations Of Bias” — Adegboruwa SAN

– Accuses Chief Judge Of High-Handedness
– Warns Akwa-Ibom Govt Should Anything Happen To Inihebe

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the Honourable Chief Judge of Akwa-Ibom state to make available the record of proceedings of July 27, 2022, leading to the conviction and committal of Inihebe Effiong to a correctional center in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state.

The learned silk noted that while he remains “an advocate of cooperation between the Bar and the Bench resulting from due deference to all judicial officers, the fact that the record of proceedings of such a short hearing cannot be made public up till now would seem to lend credence to the allegations of bias and high handedness on the part of the Honorable Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, for which we all expect the relevant authorities having jurisdiction over My Lord to intervene.”

Adegboruwa made his position known in a press release dated the 12th of August, 2022, and made it available to newsmen.

According to the human rights activist, the allegation of undignified treatment meted out on Inihebe by the officers of the Uyo correctional center is both unacceptable and against the human rights of Mr. Effiong; who he described as being in the “forefront of the campaign for transparency and good governance in Akwa-Ibom state”.

Adding that Inihebe’s current committal challenge stems from one of his drives toward good governance and ridding the state of impunity and dictatorship.

“For all who have followed the activities of Mr. Inibehe Effiong, he has been at the forefront of the campaign for transparency and good governance in Akwa Ibom, his home State and he has been a constant opponent of corruption and corrupt practices, especially by officers of the government of Akwa Ibom State. The court case he took up is an offshoot of the spirited efforts of Mr. Inibehe Effiong to rid Akwa Ibom State of all forms of impunity and dictatorship. He accepted to defend a libel suit filed by the Governor of the State against a blogger in respect of certain allegations of corruption about election cases.” the statement reads.

The ENDSARs panelist also used the opportunity to call on the “government of Akwa Ibom State to accord all citizens the opportunity for the expression and enforcement of their fundamental rights”, noting that “Nigerians will hold the federal and Akwa Ibom state governments accountable should anything happen to Mr. Effiong whilst he is custody.”

Recall that Mr. Inihebe Effiong, a popular human rights attorney, was accused of contempt by the Chief Judge of Akwa-Ibom and subsequently committed to the Uyo Correctional Center leading to public outcry, including from the Nigerian Bar Association