INIBEHE: NBA-NEC ASKS AKPATA TO DRAG CHIEF JUDGE TO NJC

The last has not been heard about the controversial one-month imprisonment of fiery human rights lawyer, Mr. Inibehe Effiong by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, as the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA-NEC) has directed NBA President to drag the jurist to the National Judicial Council for possible sanctions.

CITY LAWYER recalls that the NBA leadership had waded in to secure the release of the human rights lawyer, even as it warned that it would resist attempts to intimidate and harass lawyers.

In a statement by NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, the association noted that it has mobilized its Uyo Branch members to secure Effiong’s freedom, adding: “While not going into the merits of this particular matter yet, suffice it to say that the NBA is strongly opposed to, and will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities.”

In a statement titled “RE: DETENTION OF MR. INIBEHE EFFIONG IN AKWA IBOM STATE,”Akpata said: “I have received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, Inibehe Effiong, at a correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired on Wednesday 27 July 2022 during proceedings in the court of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.

“Since receiving this news, I have been in touch with the Chairman of the Uyo Branch of NBA who has mobilised his team to look into and address this. This morning, I have also mandated the NBA 1st Vice President to visit Uyo immediately to join the ongoing efforts and ensure the release of Mr. Effiong.

“The NBA is therefore on top of this, and I am confident that Mr. Effiong will regain his freedom shortly.

“While not going into the merits of this particular matter yet, suffice it to say that the NBA is strongly opposed to, and will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities.

“The NBA will also not condone acts of indiscipline and insubordination against judicial officers from our members no matter the provocation. Ours is a rule-based profession and there is a procedure for airing grievances. The NBA 1st Vice President will also conduct fact finding investigation to determine what transpired and recommend next steps.”

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INIBEHE EFFIONG: NBA WADES IN, VOWS TO RESIST HARASSMENT OF LAWYERS

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said that it is making moves to secure the release of human rights lawyer, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, even as it warned that it would resist attempts to intimidate and harass lawyers.

In a statement by NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, the association noted that it has mobilized its Uyo Branch members to secure Effiong’s freedom, adding: “While not going into the merits of this particular matter yet, suffice it to say that the NBA is strongly opposed to, and will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities.”

The fiery human rights lawyer was committed for contempt and sentenced to one month imprisonment yesterday by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot.

Titled, “RE: DETENTION OF MR. INIBEHE EFFIONG IN AKWA IBOM STATE,” the statement reads:

“I have received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, Inibehe Effiong, at a correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired on Wednesday 27 July 2022 during proceedings in the court of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.

“Since receiving this news, I have been in touch with the Chairman of the Uyo Branch of NBA who has mobilised his team to look into and address this. This morning, I have also mandated the NBA 1st Vice President to visit Uyo immediately to join the ongoing efforts and ensure the release of Mr. Effiong.

“The NBA is therefore on top of this, and I am confident that Mr. Effiong will regain his freedom shortly.

“While not going into the merits of this particular matter yet, suffice it to say that the NBA is strongly opposed to, and will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities.

“The NBA will also not condone acts of indiscipline and insubordination against judicial officers from our members no matter the provocation. Ours is a rule-based profession and there is a procedure for airing grievances. The NBA 1st Vice President will also conduct fact finding investigation to determine what transpired and recommend next steps.”

OLUMIDE AKPATA
NBA President
28 July 2022

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LPDC PROBE: EASTERN BAR FORUM ASKS OLANIPEKUN TO STEP ASIDE

The Eastern Bar Forum has asked the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN to step aside “to save that august institution and the legal profession further embarrassment and opprobrium.”

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the EBF Governing Council, Chief Uba Anene, the forum alleged that Olanipekun has “grave integrity issues hanging over his head.”

According to the influential forum, “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.”

It also urged the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State to reverse the imprisonment of fiery human rights lawyer, Mr. Inibehe Effiong.

The full statement reads:

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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N1.4BN FRAUD CHARGE: COURTS ACQUITS USORO

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has discharged and acquitted the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Paul Usoro SAN.

Usoro had been standing trial on 10 counts of fraud and money laundering made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He had pleaded not guilty to the offence and made a no-case submission, insisting that the anti-graft agency had made no case against him to warrant him to enter a defence.

In his decision on the no-case submission today, trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held that the anti-graft agency failed to establish any prima facie case against Usoro.

Justice Aikawa noted that the penal code, under which the former NBA President was charged, is not applicable to the southern states of Lagos and Akwa Ibom, which were said to be the locations of the alleged offences.

“On the whole, I hold that the prosecution has failed to establish any prima facie case. Accordingly, the defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted,” Justice Aikawa held.

The EFCC had arraigned Usoro on December 18, 2018, before Justice Muslim Hassan on 10 counts, all of which he pleaded not guilty to.

He was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Aikawa on charges which alleged that he committed the offence on May 14, 2016.

He was alleged to have conspired to convert the sum of N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State Government, which the court says he ought to have known was part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity

In his testimony before the court, an EFCC investigating officer Abdulrahman Arabo, said that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, hired Usoro who, in turn, invited other SANs to join him at the Election Tribunal where his victory was being challenged in 2015.

The EFFC witness also testified that the sum of N1.4 billion legal fee paid to the SANs was drawn from the treasury of the Akwa Ibom State’s account.

Usoro vigorously denied the allegations. On February 25, the former NBA President had filed a no case submission where his counsel, Effiong O. Effiong SAN submitted that the EFCC called only two witnesses and closed its case because, according to him, it knew it didn’t have any case against the defendants. He asked the court to allow the no-case submission.

But the EFCC opposed his application and asked the court to dismiss the no-case submission, citing the “overwhelming evidence” it said it had adduced and exhibits admitted in evidence. It also asked the court to order the defendant to enter his defence.

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