Shaving Effiong’s Hair And Beard Was A Security Measure And Routine Practice — Prison Controller

Says Transfer To Uyo Custodial Centre Was Part Of Covid Control

The Nigerian Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom Command has reacted to the report that human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong was tortured and manhandled by the officials while transferring him to Uto Custodial Center.

According to the controller not only was lawyer, Effiong safe and unhurt, the transfer was part of following the Covid 19 protocol, were all inmates upon conviction were isolated for a period of 14 days at the Uyo Custodial Center. He went on to express his unflinching commitment to uphold human rights and dignity of all inmates.

The service denied the allegations of forcefully shaving off his beards.

This was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Richard Metong, noting that Effiong was escorted to the waiting van that conveyed him to the centre.

Read the full statement below:

BARR. INIBEHE EFFIONG NOT TORTURED, ASSAULTED BY CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS

The attention of the Controller of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom State Command has been drawn to the fake report being circulated on social media that Barr Inibehe Effiong was handcuffed, assaulted and bundled into a van by officers of the Command in a bid to secretly transfer him from Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre to Uyo Custodial Centre.

The Command is constrained to state that this news is fake, baseless and an attempt by mischief makers to drag the corporate image of the Service to the mud. The general public is hereby advised to ignore, discard and disregard the fake news as this is a product of rumour mongers and attention seekers.

For the purpose of clarity, Barr. Inibehe Effiong is safe, secured, unhurt and not tortured or humiliated. His dignity and human right are not violated in anyway.

The human right lawyer was committed to a one month imprisonment in Uyo Custodial Centre by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State for contempt.

As part of the efforts by the Service to prioritize the health and welfare of the inmates in custody and in adherence to the Covid 19 protocol, all inmates, upon remand or conviction, are isolated for a period of fourteen (14) days at the Isolation Block in Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre before they are transferred to any custodial centre in the state to which they are sentenced.

Barr. Inibehe Effiong, upon completion of his 14 days isolation period in Ikot Ekpene, was transferred to Uyo Custodial Centre on Wednesday 10th August 2022 where he is to serve the remaining part of his term as indicated in his warrant.

Prior to the transfer, he was duly informed and was assisted by the officers of the service who escorted him to the waiting van in which he was peacefully conveyed to Uyo Custodial Centre. On arrival at Uyo, he was duly admitted into the facility and was also informed of the need to cut his hair and beards as a security measure as well as a routine practice in the facility which he obliged and willingly allowed the barber using a clipper and not a blunt instrument as speculated on the social media.

The Controller of Corrections hereby wishes to express the unflinching commitment of the Command to maintain and uphold the human right, dignity and well-being of the inmates, officers and men of the service in Akwa Ibom State and also call on the stakeholders, civil society and the general public to collaborate with the Service to fully deliver on her mandates of safe, secure and humane custody as well as providing security to the society.

RICHARD METONG
Public Relations Officer
For:
Controller of Corrections
Nigerian Correctional Service
Akwa Ibom State Command