After completing his one-month jail term slammed on him by the Chief Judge (CJ) of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, for alleged contempt of court, lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, has regained his freedom.
Effiong was released alongside 18 other inmates, remanded wrongly at the Uyo Custodial Centre in Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing journalists shortly after stepping out of the custodial facility, Effiong maintained his innocence, saying he was wrongly incarcerated for raising two objections concerning the presence of two armed Mobile Policemen inside the courtroom and opposing the CJ’s decision to evict a journalist from the courtroom.
Speaking on his one-month stay in prison, Effiong said his Bible and other legal books were his main companions, adding that the period gave him the opportunity to take a break from his usual busy schedules, to sleep and interact with inmates to ascertain their offenses.
Lamenting that the criminal justice system has been totally mortgaged, Effiong disclosed that his interaction with inmates at the Custodial Centre afforded him the opportunity to discover that “so many inmates are innocent”.
He explained that his discovery forced him to undertake a legal battle from inside the prison to free 18 inmates, saying one of them who completed the bail process was earlier freed on Thursday, while the 17 others would be freed on Friday.
He explained that most of them were admitted to bail, but their release could not be facilitated because of lack of money and sureties to stand to guarantee them bail.
“I thank God for making me a free man today. I have just finished my one month opportunity with destiny, toeing the line of the late human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi. I consider it an honour to be incarcerated for standing by the truth,” Effiong said, adding that his committal to prison would not dampen his enthusiasm to continue to fight for the oppressed people of the society.
He, therefore, commended the national president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, SAN; Chief Femi Falana, SAN; concerned civil society groups and the media for their various roles in the struggle to free him prison custody.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/canada-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-right-an-aisle-in-a-canadian-grocery-store.jpg?id=56631958&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C36%2C0%2C36"/><br/><br/><p>After a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-trump-trudeau-tariffs" target="_blank">30-day pause on proposed tariffs</a>, the North American trade war is back on, and <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/trump-tariffs-legault-quebec" target="_blank">Canada isn't holding back</a>.</p><p>As of today, March 4, 2025, U.S. <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Donald Trump</a> has officially imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian exports and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy. North of the border, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear that Canada won't take this sitting down.</p><p>"Canadians are reasonable, but we will not back down from a fight," he wrote in an X post on Monday morning.</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1896959387996151944">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1896959387996151944"></a>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>The Prime Minister later revealed details of counter-tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. products, announcing plans to slap an additional $125 billion in tariffs over the next three weeks if the situation escalates.</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1896964152822050953">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1896964152822050953"></a>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>The list of affected goods isn't random, though. It's designed to put economic pressure on American industries while trying to soften the impact on Canadians. </p><p>That said, everyday essentials like groceries, household goods, and vehicles will be affected, meaning you could soon see higher prices at checkout counters.</p><p>Here's an extensive list of goods that will likely see price surges. </p><h2>Full list of U.S. products now facing tariffs in Canada</h2><h4></h4><h4>Food & drink</h4><ul><li>Poultry & eggs – chicken, turkey, duck, and their byproducts</li><li>Dairy – milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt</li><li>Fruits & vegetables – tomatoes, beans, citrus fruits, melons, berries</li><li>Coffee, tea, spices, and condiments – including ketchup, mustard, and peanut butter</li><li>Packaged foods – pasta, bread, soup, chocolate, cereal</li><li>Alcohol – beer, wine, spirits, and coolers</li></ul><h4>Tobacco & nicotine products</h4><ul><li>Cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco</li><li>Vapes, e-cigarettes, and nicotine patches</li></ul><h4>Personal care items</h4><ul><li>Makeup, skincare, razors, deodorant, and hair products</li><li>Toothpaste and dental floss</li><li>Perfumes and room deodorizers</li></ul><h4>Household & office goods</h4><ul><li>Kitchenware – glassware, utensils, and storage containers</li><li>Furniture – chairs, mattresses, lighting, and storage racks</li><li>Paper products – toilet paper, napkins, stationery</li></ul><h4>Clothing & accessories</h4><ul><li>Shirts, pants, dresses, outerwear, and baby clothes</li><li>Footwear, hats, gloves, and jewelry</li><li>Suitcases, backpacks, and wallets</li></ul><h4>Electronics & appliances</h4><ul><li>Refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers</li><li>Small appliances – blenders, toasters, coffee makers</li><li>Gaming consoles and board games</li></ul><h4>Vehicles & machinery</h4><ul><li>Motorbikes, boats, and drones</li><li>Snowblowers, lawnmowers, and power tools</li><li>Rubber tires</li></ul><h4>Building materials</h4><ul><li>Wood products, plastic packaging, and window fixtures</li><li>Bathroom fixtures, carpets, and textiles</li></ul><h4>Weapons & ammunition</h4><ul><li>Firearms – pistols, rifles, shotguns, air guns</li><li>Ammunition – bullets, cartridges, and pellets</li></ul><p>With tariffs and counter-tariffs now in place, the government encourages Canadians to buy locally whenever possible. If your usual grocery staples or household goods are on this list, you might need to alter your shopping cart.</p><p>To make the transition easier, you can check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/made-in-canada-grocery-items" target="_blank">list of locally-made grocery items to replace US products</a>.</p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em>
