By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong who was sentenced to a month imprisonment in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has regained freedom after spending the term at the Correctional Centre.
He was released from the Uyo Correctional Centre, along Willington Bassey Way, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday morning to the warming welcome of his supporters and family members.
Inibehe was convicted to prison for contempt on July 27, 2022 by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot during proceeding in the libel suit instituted by the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and Senator Effiong Bob, against Mr Leo Ekpenyong which was on its last day for prosecution.
Barr. Effiong is the defense counsel to Barr Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit suits Nos HU/279/2019 and HU/273/2019 respectively.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo, Barr Effiong thanked God for making the day possible, pointing out that history would always vindicate the just.
Reviewing the whole episode, he said deception and lies may tarry for a while but there are two judges that cannot be deceived, the judge of heaven and judge of conscience
He thanked his friends, family and colleagues including the media who stood by him during the period, adding that he considered it as an honour to be incarcerated and that the one month period was an appointment with destiny.
“I thank God for making this day possible. History will always vindicate the just, I have just finished my one month appointment with destiny. I came to the custodial centre to follow the path of my ancestors, the Gani Fawhinmi’s of this World and those who have sacrificed their personal comfort for their conviction.
“Those who visited me during my conviction would know that I was totally unbothered, unperturbed, I considered it as an honour to be incacerated.
“I want to thank my family, the NBA led by Olumide Akpata for standing by me even lawyers of good conscience who have not clearly heard from me, believed in me and fought to defend me, my lead counsel Femi Falana and other senior lawyers and my colleague Barr Augustine Asuquo and my friends in the media for always saying the truth
“As I said deception and lies may tarry for a while but there are two judges that cannot be deceived, the judge of heaven and judge of conscience”
New Nigerian in Uyo observed that 17 other inmates who served various jailed terms were also released courtesy of Barr Effiong who in jail, facilitated their release by undertaking to pay the court fines that stood against them.
