Judge, Ekaette Obot, Orders Police To Arrest Premium Times Reporter, Saviour Imukudo

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Saviour Imukudo, who was at the High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday, to cover the court proceedings, has been arrested by the police on the order of the Akwa Ibom Chief Judge, Ekaette Obot.

Mr Imukudo was in the court to cover the defamation case between the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, and a lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong.

 Mr Ekpenyong’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, was also controversially sent to prison for one month by Justice Obot.

A resident of Uyo, who witnessed the arrest of Mr Imukudo, said the judge had asked the reporter to identify himself in the courtroom when the proceedings started.

Mr Imukudo introduced himself as a reporter with the PREMIUM TIMES, and then Justice Obot ordered him to leave the courtroom.

As he was walking out of the courtroom, the judge ordered a police officer to search him and confiscate his phone, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

There were two armed police officers inside the courtroom, the lawyer, Mr Effiong, said in his tweets that alerted the public that he was being sent to prison by Justice Obot.

The PREMIUM TIMES’ reporter, Mr Imukudo, was still detained as of 1:30 p.m. in Justice Obot’s court.

How I Found Myself Inside Prison - Nigerian Lawyer 

"The Chief Judge of Akwa Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court. I said my lord, we were thinking that since the proceeding is public, that members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceeding. My Lord asked me to proceed with cross examination.

"I obeyed. I informed the court that I was not feeling comfortable and safe having two armed mobile policemen seated inside the courtroom, that it was strange and that I felt unsafe. I applied for the judge to excuse the armed policemen from the courtroom.

"The Hon. Chief Judge then ordered me to step out of the Bar, that she was sending me to prison. She then ordered the policemen to take me to Uyo prison. And that I should be in jail for one month. I am waiting inside the courtroom for them to bring the conviction warrant.

"I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be jailed."