The safety of human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong is now in doubts following reports of his torture and assault by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Center in Uyo. 

Mr Effiong’s ordeal was disclosed by senior lawyer and rights activist, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, on Thursday via a tweet.

“Breaking: Officers of @CorrectionsNg at the Uyo Prison in Akwa Ibom State, SS #Nigeria, overnight reportedly assaulted & tortured @inibeheeffiong, using blunt instruments to shave his beards, & injuring him in the process. Inibehe’s personal safety is now clearly in jeopardy,” the tweet read. 

Mr Effiong was illegally committed to prison on July 27 for alleged contempt by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Obot. His conviction was marred with what public intellectuals and civil society organisations including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have described as judicial malpractice and abuse of office. 

He was initially held at Ekot Ekpene Medium Security Custodial Center where he had served two weeks out of his sentence before he was secretly moved to Uyo Maximum Security Custodial Center on Wednesday morning for reasons undisclosed. 

Spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) did not respond to messages regarding Mr Effiong’s welfare.