Activist lawyer Inibehe Effiong agreed to having his hair shaved – Officials

Authorities at the Nigerian Correctional Service in Akwa Ibom have clarified that Inibehe Effiong, a rights activist sent to one-month imprisonment for contempt of court, consented to having his hair shaved at the facility.

Chief judge of the state, Ekaette Obot, gave the order for the activist’s imprisonment on July 27.

The conviction has attracted an outcry particularly on social media. The prison management has also been accused of torturing the lawyer, a claim they denied.

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.”

Effiong was, Wednesday moved from Ekot Ekpene Medium Security Custodial Centre to Uyo Maximum Security Custodial Centre.

Femi Falana, SAN, said Friday that the judge, Obot, 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.”