“His Assertions Were Actuated By Malice And Made In Bad Faith” — Inibehe Effiong Reacts To Fmr. AG Akwa Ibom, Nwoko’s SAN Comment On His Conviction

*Says He Has Been Nothing But Courteous To Nwoko SAN Who Doesn’t Reciprocate Such Courtesy
*Alleges That Nwoko Called His Lawyers And Other Senior Lawyers To Poison Their Mind Against Him
*Refutes Allegations That He Lacks Mentorship, Says Its Absurd And False

Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has reacted to the statement by the Former Attorney General of Akwa Akwa Ibom, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko SAN that he, Effiong suffered the problem of lack of proper mentoring and pupilage and this has led Effiong being able to say ‘as the Court Pleases’ and other nuances of the legal profession. According to Effiong this statement was actuated by Malice, made in bad faith and meant to malign him.

In an interview granted to This day Newspaper, when asked his reaction to the statement, Effiong stated that he had considered not replying the learned silk. His words read thus: “Let me be frank with you, I was going to ignore the vituperations of Mr Nwoko, SAN against me, because I firmly believe that every rational person that watched the widely circulated interview that he granted to malign me would easily decipher that his assertions were actuated by malice, made in bad faith and dictated by uncontrollable vindictiveness. You know in this part of the world, when a younger person responds to an elder, some people will see it as insult, irrespective of what the elder may have done or said against the younger person. So, I initially did not want to respond to him.”

However, after due consideration Effiong noted that his silence on the issue would mean consent on future reference. According to Effiong, he had always treated the learned silk with respect recounting a particular experience when he was on the same flight with Nwoko, SAN from Uyo to Abuja on July 25, 2022z, and as he boarded the aircraft, he saw the learned silk seated in one of the front seats, to which greeted him by saying Learned Silk, good afternoon Sir. Effiong noted that Nwoko SAN just smiled in a dismissive way. He went on to allege that every single time that I meet Mr Nwoko, I always accord him respect; despite the fact he fundamentally opposed the way he conducted himself while in office as Attorney-General (AG) and did not share his political ideology, Effiong stated he had never treated Nwoko SAN with disdain, but greeted and respected him, as his senior at the Bar. Regrettably Effiong noted, Mr Nwoko does not reciprocate the courtesy that I accord him, but has consistently sought to put him down.

Effiong opined that with the sort of bitterness and animosity that the learned silk exudes towards him, one may be tempted to think that he made advances towards his wife or that he eloped with his daughter, because he couldn’t comprehend how else one would describe what he tagged as ‘condescending and diabolical comments’ that the learned silk made against him, while he was in prison? “He showed neither empathy, nor a desire for justice. I am much younger than him in age, and at the Bar. But, he reacted to my incarceration as if I am competing with him. He has always treated me, as someone who is a threat to his source of livelihood and standing in the society.” Effiong said.

Narrating what actually led to such level of Animosity, Effiong said thus: “For the benefit of those who do not know, Mr Nwoko’s animosity towards me assumed a dangerous dimension after a certain young man by name Kufre Carter was arrested in April 2020 by the SSS on the instigation of the Akwa Ibom State Government, over alleged defamation. The case was politically motivated, legally indefensible, and initiated in a desperate attempt by the State Government to cover the perceived fraudulent manner that the government handled funds collected from donors to contain the spread of Covid-19. I took up the case of the young man, pro bono. Mr Nwoko SAN was the AG at the time. The Chief Magistrate Court had imposed stringent bail conditions on Carter, including that he should produce a surety who must be a Permanent Secretary or a level 17 Civil Servant and imposed a bail bond of N3 million. I filed a motion at the High Court, praying for variation of the onerous bail conditions. Mr Nwoko decided to personally oppose the application. He appeared in court in person as the AG, and argued against variation of the bail. The High Court aligned completely with my submissions, and totally discountenanced his arguments. Mr Nwoko saw the ruling as a fatal humiliation, given the public attention that the case had elicited. Before the legal fireworks began in the court on the day the motion was heard, Mr Nwoko said to me loudly to the hearing of everyone, “Inibehe, are you aware that your client has apologised to the Governor?” I responded by telling him that there was no apology from my client, and that, in any event, it is the Governor who should apologise to my client for the violation of his rights. He said to me, “Is that so?” and I answered him in the affirmative.”

“The State Government was desperate to get a soft landing through undeserved apology, given the anger of the public over the dubious charge which was eventually thrown out by the trial court. I was also determined to ensure that the government did not resolve the case based on their sinister and oppressive terms, in order to make them understand that in this country, not everyone will prostrate before corrupt politicians. That was why Nwoko, SAN could not accept the decision of the learned Judge, which set aside all the stringent bail conditions imposed by the Chief Magistrate Court.”

“Immediately the High Court delivered a ruling against him, Mr Nwoko served us with a frivolous Notice of Appeal and a baseless motion for stay of execution, which is almost unprecedented in the history of legal practice in Nigeria. I am not aware of any precedent where the State represented by the AG, filed an appeal against an order varying bail conditions of a Defendant with a motion for stay of execution. How do you stay the liberty of a citizen, whose fundamental right to liberty is guaranteed by Section 35 of the Constitution? Bail is at the discretion of the court. It was a clear case of persecution. I felt scandalised as a Lawyer. The SSS told me that Mr Nwoko had written to them, not to comply with the order of the High Court. It was nothing short of prosecutorial misconduct, and gross abuse of office. But because impunity has become a culture in this country, people like Mr Nwoko, SAN can afford to do whatever they like when they occupy public office, without consequences. I had resolved at the time to write a petition against him to the NBA. But, I reconsidered my decision and moved on, having secured the release of my client.”

Effiong stated that in lieu of the above incident, the learned silk has since then become extremely bitter to him and sought to denigrate him at the slightest opportunity. He noted that he had immense respect for Senior Advocates of Nigeria. According to him, it is a rank of distinction and honour.

He went to view that it was his belief that the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria would be thoroughly embarrassed by the comments and conduct of Mr Nwoko. He said that I lack mentorship. And also, he strongly refuted the statement of the learned silk that he lacked mentorship nothing thus: “There are a number of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that hail from Akwa Ibom State. I respect them. It is only Mr Nwoko that has publicly and consistently sought to ruin me.” According to him, Nwoko SAN is a consultant to the Akwa Ibom State Government, and the Akwa Ibom State Government perceives him as their number one nemesis because he has consistently exposed and spoken out against their misrule.

He added that it was absurd that a learned Senior Advocate say that a lawyer does not know how to say “as the court pleases”? “Is that not ridiculous?” He asked. He noted that in the eight years of hia practice, no Judge has ever accused me of insolencez, and he cannot recall ever disparaging any judge or senior colleague in court.

In addition to this, Effiong revealed that Nwoko SAN tried to poison the mind of those he supported him. “Do you know that Mr Nwoko went to the extent of calling my lawyers Mr Falana, SAN, Mr Monday Ubani, and other senior Lawyers in the country and tried to poison their minds against me? He is using his status as a SAN against me. But, history will vindicate the just.” Effiong alleged.