Smarting from the barrage of protestations, the Nigerian Correctional Service in Akwa Ibom says the hair and beard of human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, in its custody, was shaved as a security precaution.

Mr Effiong was on July 27 unlawfully sent to one month imprisonment by Akwa-Ibom chief judge Ekaette Obot for purported “contempt” while defending his client in Ms Obot’s court.

Agitations have however grown against Uyo prison officials since reports of assault and torture of Mr Effiong made the headlines.

In a statement on Friday, the Akwa Ibom Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service claimed that shaving inmates’ hair was a standard practice at correctional institutions.

“On arrival at Uyo, he was duly admitted into the facility and was also informed of the need to cut his hair and beards as a security measure as well as a routine practice in the facility,” the statement signed by spokesperson Richard Meeting read in part.

Mr Meeting asserted that Mr Effiong “obliged and willingly allowed the barber using a clipper and not a blunt instrument as speculated on the social media.”

Although Mr Effiong was initially held at the Ekot Ekpene Medium Security Custodial Centre where he had served two weeks out of his sentence, he was moved to Uyo Maximum Security Custodial Centre on Wednesday under unexplained circumstances. 

His conviction had been marred with public outcry as members of the Civil Society Organisations have been calling for his release from prison. 

A pressure group “Lawyer Arise For Justice” led by a popular Abuja lawyer, Tope Temokun, had told Ms Obot to recuse herself from the case while asking the leadership of the NBA to speak up from its continued silence on the “injustice” meted on Mr Effiong. 

Early Friday, renowned rights lawyer Femi Falana hinted that Ms Obot, who sentenced the accused, had refused to furnish him with a certified true copy of her judgement convicting the lawyer to prison. 

He added that the action of Ms Obot was “in order to prevent Inibehe from appealing against the conviction and sentence.”

The imprisonment slammed on Mr Effiong has generated wide reactions and condemnation on the social media with activists dragging the Akwa Ibom Chief Judge, using the hashtag #FreeInibeheEffiong to call for his release from prison.