Falana To Sue Nigerian Prison Officials Who Assaulted, Forcefully Shaved Beard Of Lawyer Illegally Jailed By Akwa Ibom Chief Judge
Adedokun Waliyu 
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has vowed to sue officials of the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, who assaulted and tortured human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, using blunt instruments to forcefully shave off his beard.
Falana disclosed this while speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday, saying he will “go after persons and officials in the correctional centre in Uyo that violated his rights”.
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Obot, sentenced Effiong to one month in prison on July 27, for alleged contempt of court after the lawyer objected to the presence of two armed police operatives inside the courtroom.
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.
The illegal imprisonment attracted condemnation from civil society organisations and many Nigerians.
On August 3, the Nigerian Bar Association said the lawyer was not given a fair hearing before he was sent to prison by the judge, and the organisation threatened to petition the judge at the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Speaking after Effiong was released on Friday, Falana said steps are being taken to go after persons and officials in the correctional centre who violated the lawyer’s rights.
SaharaReporters had earlier identified one of the overzealous officials as Eno-Obong Gideon Eyoren.
It was learnt that Eno-Obong is a member of the Ku Kloc Klan (KKK) Confraternity; he was initiated in 2003 and has been the Chief Guard (CG) in the cult.
Sources had also revealed that the prison warder had been arrested for unlawful possession of firearms, robberies and murder in the past.
On August 11, some officials of the NCS in Uyo assaulted and tortured Effiong, using blunt instruments to forcefully shave off his beard.
The lawyer was injured in the process, SaharaReporters had gathered.
Speaking on the identity of the warder who led the assault, a top source had said, “His name is Eno-Obong Gideon Eyoren. He is a member of the KKK. Some years ago, he was involved in some regular armed robberies. He stayed in Ekid Itam 2 in the Itu Local government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
“As a warder, he was arrested for unlawful possession of firearms in 2009, and he was also arrested for murder in 2011. He was involved in the crisis at Eket with inmates. He also went for armed robbery at Mbia-Obong Ayaya off Oron Road, Uyo where he claimed to be an officer and they handed over his gun to him because it belonged to the government.
“The KKK confraternity is Ku Kloc Klan and he was initiated in 2003 and he has been the Chief Guard (CG) in the confraternity. He is from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He decided to join the wardens to cover up his wrongdoings. In Uyo township, he was one of those who ganged up to murder one boxer at the stadium named Ametie Peter.”
