Lawyer jailed by Akwa Ibom CJ regains freedom one month after

Inibehe Effiong, the human rights lawyer, who incurred the wrath of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, and was sent to prison, has regained freedom.

Effiong was released Friday after serving one month at between the Ikot Ekpene and Uyo correctional facilities.

He was charged for contempt of court by Justice Obot and subsequently committed to prison July 27.

Effiong was reportedly abused by prison officials who scraped his hair and beard.

“I am back, stronger and more determined to confront the forces of oppression and to continue to speak nothing but the hard truth to the faces of the oppressors of our people. I feel sorry for those who thought they can break my spirit by incarcerating me,” he said in a post on his social media handle.

READ: Judge sends human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong to prison

He was seen given a heroic welcome march by a group of supporters.

The lawyer posted a video on his Facebook, Friday morning and captioned it “History will vindicate the just.”

He served the first two weeks of his 30 days sentence at the Ikot Ekpene Custodial Center and was later transferred to Uyo Custodial Centre to serve the remaining days.

His incarceration had been met with wide criticisms as fellow lawyers and activists condemned what they described as failure of the Judge to give him a fair hearing or to defend himself.

Effiong was defending Leo Ekpenyong in a case of libel said to have been instituted against his client by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, when he got into trouble with Justice Obot.