Nigeria, March 20 -- The Akwa Ibom State Government has filed a counter affidavit at the Court of Appeal in Calabar, Cross River State, opposing an appeal filed by a Nigerian lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, against his conviction for contempt by a State High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Mr Effiong, a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, was on 27 July 2022, sentenced to 30 days imprisonment over what the trial judge, Ekaette Obot, described as "unruly behaviour."

Justice Obot is the chief judge of Akwa Ibom State.

The rights lawyer had in August 2022, filed an appeal, asking the appellate court to set aside his conviction for contempt.

In the appeal, his lawyer, Femi Falana, raised nine grounds which he said the trial judge erred in convicting...