Human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong, who was jailed for contempt by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, has regained freedom after spending exactly one month at a correctional centre.
This is as 17 other inmates convicted for various offences also regained freedom on the same day
Effiong was released from the Uyo Correctional Centre, along Willington Bassey Way, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, at about 7:30am on Friday.
The lawyer had been convicted on July 27, 2022, by Justice Obot during a proceeding in the libel suit instituted by the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, and Senator Effiong Bob, against Mr Leo Ekpenyong.
The human rights activist is the defense counsel to Ekpenyong in the suit marked HU/279/2019 and HU/273/2019, respectively.
Speaking while addressing a crowd of supporters on Friday, Effiong expressed appreciation to God for making the day possible, adding that history will always vindicate the just.
He said, “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 Fawhenmi’s of this world and those who have sacrificed their comfort for their conviction.
“Those who visited me during my conviction would know that I was totally unbothered, unperturbed; I considered it an honour to be incarcerated.
“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.”