A human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong convicted by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State can now appeal his conviction at the Appeal Court.
The appeal is now possible following the availability of the Certified True Copy of the proceedings of the High Court.
Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Fabian-Obot, yesterday “Wednesday, August 17, 2022”, bowed to pressure and gave out the CTC.
According to Effiong’s lawyer, Nsikak Akai, the CTC “certified true copy” of the record of proceedings was made available 21 days after the conviction of Inibehe Effiong for contempt of court contrary to Sections 36(7) and 294(1) of the Constitution which stipulate that the parties to a cause or matter be furnished with duly authenticated copies of the decision of a trial court within seven days of the delivery thereof.
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He said that the Notice of Appeal against the conviction and sentence of one month imprisonment imposed on Inibehe Effiong will be filed today, August 18, 2022.
The Chief Judge sent Inibehe Effiong, to prison following his protest that journalists should not be barred for covering a matter of public interest.
Effiong later said he did not feel safe in court.
Mr Effiong was in court to defend his client, Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit filed by the State Governor, Udom Emmanuel against him.
