The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, on Wednesday sentenced a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, to one month’s imprisonment over what she called “confrontational and contemptuous behaviour” in court.

The chief judge ordered the conviction of the lawyer during proceedings in the case of libel by Governor Udom Emmanuel and Senator Effiong Bob against Leo Ekpenyong.

Effiong is Ekpenyong’s counsel in libel suits with Nos HU/279/2019 and HU/273/2019 respectively.

The chief judge, before ordering the conviction warrant, said she had run out of patience with the excesses and unruly behaviour of the lawyer, adding that he would use the correctional facility to purge himself of insolent behaviour which she said had tended to bring disrepute to the court.

Effiong had asked the Chief Judge to recuse herself from presiding over the matter, as he alleges bias and a likelihood of bias in the case.

However, during cross examination of the last witness, Rev Richard Peters, the proceedings ended abruptly as the Chief Judge said she could no longer withstand the confrontational behaviour of the rights lawyer.

Effiong had, while cross-examining the witness, observed the presence of two armed policemen inside the courtroom, which he prayed the Chief Judge to excuse, adding that their presence had already made the atmosphere tense and uncomfortable for him to proceed.

He said, “My Lord, as a legal practitioner, with total respect, I have never seen armed policemen inside the court with an Ak47. With total respect, my Lord, I don’t feel comfortable as a lawyer in this atmosphere having armed policemen sitting behind me.

“I am formally raising the observation that the atmosphere of the court is hostile to the proceedings. I’m also raising observations that my Lord should ask them to leave the court; they have no business being here.”

Irked by the observations, Justice Obot ordered the lawyer to step out of the bar and remove his wig and gown, but the lawyer sought the reason for such an order even as he (Effiong) said that he would not address the judge while being disrobed.

In reply, the CJ said, “You are sentenced for being confrontational and contemptuous. Now remove your wig. You are no longer in a position to address me. You are hereby sentenced to one month’s imprisonment to purge yourself of contempt. Take him away. “

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the judgment, the claimant’s counsel, Samuel Ikpo, said it was contempt of court for any lawyer to put up unruly behaviour in court.

He said, “We have fielded our last witness for the final cross examination and the defence counsel in his characteristic manner was very hostile with the Chief Judge, abused the Chief Judge, and poured vituperation. He has been doing that before. Even I, as a lawyer, cannot tolerate that, but the Chief Judge in her magnanimity has been tolerating him until today.

“In law, even when the judgment is against you, you cannot stand before the Chief Judge and say anything unruly. You see that matter, I am going to appeal. Every time he goes out of court, he will gather the media to talk nonsense. Let him stay in the correctional centre and purge himself of contempt. “

The matter was earlier meant to be heard on July 27 and 29.