A protest has commenced in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital against the illegal imprisonment of human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong. On July 27, 2022, the Chief Judge of the State, Ekaette Obot, sentenced Effiong to one month in prison for alleged contempt. The human rights lawyer, who also serves as the National Legal Adviser for the African Action Congress (AAC), was in court to defend lawyer Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit filed by Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Some human rights groups have condemned the imprisonment of a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Obot. Obot on July 27 unlawfully sent Effiong to one month in prison after the lawyer reportedly said he did not feel safe in court. The human rights lawyer, who is also the National Legal Adviser of the African Action Congress (AAC), was in court to defend Leo Ekpenyong, a lawyer, in a libel suit filed by Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom.
A group of concerned civic space actors, family, and colleagues of human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, have kicked against his transfer from the Ikot Ekpene Medium Security Custodial Center to the Uyo Custodial Center. Inibehe was jailed by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot for alleged contempt.