The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has promised to ensure the release of Inibehe Effiong, the Lagos-based lawyer sentenced to one month in prison by Justice Ekaette Obot, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.

Effiong was sentenced for defending Savior Imukudo, a Premium Times reporter, on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Thursday and made available to FIJ, Olumide Akpata, the group’s chairman, said the chairman of the Uyo Branch of the NBA had mobilised his team to look into and address the matter.

He also mandated a vice president of the NBA to visit Uyo immediately and strengthen the efforts to secure the release of Mr. Effiong.

“While not going into the merits of this particular matter yet, suffice it to say that the NBA is strongly opposed to, and will continue to resist all attempts to intimidate, threaten or harass our members while properly carrying out their professional responsibilities,” the statement reads.

Akpata assured the members of the bar that the NBA was on top of the matter, stating that he remained confident that Effiong would regain his freedom soon.

“The NBA will also not condone acts of indiscipline and insubordination against judicial officers from our members no matter the provocation. Ours is a rule-based profession and there is a procedure for airing grievances,” the group said.

“The NBA 1st Vice President will also conduct fact finding investigation to determine what transpired and recommend next steps.”