The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, has said the Association will strongly resist every attempt to intimidate or harrass lawyers while carrying out their professional responsibilities.

In a statement made available to The Lawyer, the NBA President while reacting to the detention of Human Rights Activist, Inibehe Effiong at a Correctional Facility in Akwa Ibom also said the NBA would neither tolerate acts of insubordination and indiscipline against judicial officers no matter the provocation.

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

According to Akpata, since he received the news of Effiong’s detention, he has been in touch with the Chairman of the Uyo branch of the NBA, and has directed that the NBA 1st Vice President visit Uyo immediately to join in efforts to ensure the release of Mr Effiong, while assuring that the NBA is on top of the situation and will ensure Mr. Effiong regains his freedom shortly.

“Since receiving this news, I have been in touch with the Chairman of the Uyo Branch of NBA who has mobilised his team to look into and address this. This morning, I have also mandated the NBA 1st Vice President to visit Uyo immediately to join the ongoing efforts and ensure the release of Mr. Effiong.

The NBA is therefore on top of this, and I am confident that Mr. Effiong will regain his freedom shortly” Akpata said.