Inibehe Effiong, a human rights attorney who is currently imprisoned, has filed a lawsuit against Chief Judge Ekaette Obot of Akwa Ibom State for refusing to provide him with documents of the court proceedings and his conviction order despite his repeated requests.
On Monday, the attorney filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Uyo, asking the judge to order Justice Obot to give him a copy of the ruling from July 27.
The judge's refusal to release the conviction order is illegitimate and unconstitutional, according to Effiong, as it is in violation of Section 36(7) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The plaintiff's attorney, Femi Falana, stated that Effiong is entitled to a copy of the verdict within seven days of the case's end in a court document that newsmen were able to view.
For suspected court contempt, Justice Obot sentenced Effiong to prison on July 27.
He completed the first two weeks of his 30-day term at the Nigeria Correctional Service's Ikot Ekpene Custodial Center.
Later, he was moved to the Uyo Custodial Center where he completed the remaining days.
According to reports, Effiong was mistreated by jail guards who pulled his beard and hair.
Justice Obot's decision to imprison the lawyer has drawn criticism from all throughout the nation.
In Uyo, a number of organisations have organised demonstrations to demand his release.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised the method used by Justice Obot to imprison the lawyer.
The judge did not give Mr. Effiong a fair hearing before sending him to prison, according to NBA President Olumide Akpata.
Justice Obot had sentenced Mr. Effiong to prison on July 27 after the defence attorney raised concerns about the presence of two armed police officers in the courtroom.
The attorney represented his client in the slander action at Justice Obot's court.
In the lawsuit brought by the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, the defendant is the client, Leo Ekpenyong.