Inibehe Effiong Esq has finally confirmed the
information about the reversal of the policy of the FHC over the
seizure of Lawyers’ phones and other communication gadgets at the
court entrance by security officers.
Appreciating the Chief Judge for the move, Mr. Effiong noted
that similar petition will be forwarded to the Inspector General of
Police. According to him, lawyers suffer almost the same fate of
gadgets seizure when visiting clients at police stations.
Below reads the statement:
I have confirmed that the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal
High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Abdul Kafarati, has attended to
and acted on my petition against the policy/practice of seizing
mobile phones and other communication gadgets from legal
practitioners by security officials in the Federal High Court in
Abuja.
You would recall that on the 8th day of March, 2018 I submitted
a petition to the Chief Judge against the practice of seizing
mobile phones and other communication gadgets from legal
practioners by security officials in the Federal High Court
premises in Abuja as a precondition for allowing lawyers access
into the main building of the Court. I also copied the President of
the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). I personally delivered the
petition to the offices of the CJ and the NBA President.
The erstwhile policy had been going on for a very long time
unchallenged to the shame of the legal profession in Nigeria .
Lawyers were greatly demoralised and scandalized by it. No one ever
explained why lawyers were not allowed to carry their phones into
the main building of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Such practice
does not exist even at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
I wish to express my profound appreciation to My Lord, the
Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, for
acting swiftly to redress the wrong done to the psyche, prestige
and rights of Nigerian lawyers who were constantly humiliated and
harrassed over the policy. The dignity of lawyers has been restored
at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Lawyers can now enter the Temple of Justice where they are
Ministers by virtue of their Call as Barristers and Solicitors of
the Supreme Court of Nigeria with their phones and other
communication gadgets.
Lawyers should not be endangered species.
I am aware that lawyers are also not allowed to carry their
phones into nearly all the police stations in Nigeria when going to
see their clients/suspects. The reason for this is only known to
the police who have never hidden their contempt and disaffection
for legal practitioners. I believe that it is time to challenge the
police on the legality and constitutionality of stopping legal
practitioners from accessing police stations with their phones.
Accordingly, I shall be submitting a petition to the Inspector
General of Police within the month on the matter and if no action
is taken within 14 days thereafter to redress it, I shall approach
the Federal High Court to seek redress.
Let it be known that these actions are not intended to seek
attention or to make anyone a hero. It is only our modest
contribution to widen the democratic space in Nigeria and promote
the cause of human rights and justice. Lawyers are also victims of
injustice and rights abuses. If lawyers cannot fight for their
rights, how will they fight for the rights of the common man in
Nigeria?
We shall not relent, we shall not be cowed.
Thank you.
Signed:
INIBEHE EFFIONG ESQ.
inibehe.effiong@gmail.com
Inibehe Effiong Esq has finally confirmed the
information about the reversal of the policy of the FHC over the
seizure of Lawyers’ phones and other communication gadgets at the
court entrance by security officers.
Appreciating the Chief Judge for the move, Mr. Effiong noted
that similar petition will be forwarded to the Inspector General of
Police. According to him, lawyers suffer almost the same fate of
gadgets seizure when visiting clients at police stations.
Below reads the statement:
I have confirmed that the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal
High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Abdul Kafarati, has attended to
and acted on my petition against the policy/practice of seizing
mobile phones and other communication gadgets from legal
practitioners by security officials in the Federal High Court in
Abuja.
You would recall that on the 8th day of March, 2018 I submitted
a petition to the Chief Judge against the practice of seizing
mobile phones and other communication gadgets from legal
practioners by security officials in the Federal High Court
premises in Abuja as a precondition for allowing lawyers access
into the main building of the Court. I also copied the President of
the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). I personally delivered the
petition to the offices of the CJ and the NBA President.
The erstwhile policy had been going on for a very long time
unchallenged to the shame of the legal profession in Nigeria .
Lawyers were greatly demoralised and scandalized by it. No one ever
explained why lawyers were not allowed to carry their phones into
the main building of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Such practice
does not exist even at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
I wish to express my profound appreciation to My Lord, the
Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, for
acting swiftly to redress the wrong done to the psyche, prestige
and rights of Nigerian lawyers who were constantly humiliated and
harrassed over the policy. The dignity of lawyers has been restored
at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Lawyers can now enter the Temple of Justice where they are
Ministers by virtue of their Call as Barristers and Solicitors of
the Supreme Court of Nigeria with their phones and other
communication gadgets.
Lawyers should not be endangered species.
I am aware that lawyers are also not allowed to carry their
phones into nearly all the police stations in Nigeria when going to
see their clients/suspects. The reason for this is only known to
the police who have never hidden their contempt and disaffection
for legal practitioners. I believe that it is time to challenge the
police on the legality and constitutionality of stopping legal
practitioners from accessing police stations with their phones.
Accordingly, I shall be submitting a petition to the Inspector
General of Police within the month on the matter and if no action
is taken within 14 days thereafter to redress it, I shall approach
the Federal High Court to seek redress.
Let it be known that these actions are not intended to seek
attention or to make anyone a hero. It is only our modest
contribution to widen the democratic space in Nigeria and promote
the cause of human rights and justice. Lawyers are also victims of
injustice and rights abuses. If lawyers cannot fight for their
rights, how will they fight for the rights of the common man in
Nigeria?
We shall not relent, we shall not be cowed.
Thank you.
Signed:
INIBEHE EFFIONG ESQ.
inibehe.effiong@gmail.com