Blessing Effiong: Multi-representation stalls case
The case of Blessing Effiong, a 19-year-old girl, who has been in Kirikiri Prison since 2008 for alleged phone theft, was stalled at a Lagos High Court in Lagos on Thursday.

When the case came up, two lawyers stood up as Effiong’s legal representatives.


In all, six lawyers from different parts of the country who had read PUNCH Metro’s publication titled ‘Girl in detention for four years over phone theft,’ came to represent her in court.


It was learnt that a lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja as well as lawyers from Effiong’s home state, Akwa Ibom, were among the lawyers.


Initially, a lawyer from the Office of the Public Defender had served as Effiong’s counsel when she was charged with robbery at an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court.


However, the case was dropped by the OPD after the Director of Public Prosecutions advised that Effiong should be tried in a competent court.


On May 23, 2012, when the case was brought before the high court, it was stalled because prison authorities did not produce Effiong in court, prompting the judge to adjourn the case till Thursday.


During the sitting on Thursday, Justice C.A Balogun advised the lawyers to resolve the issue of representation before standing down the case.


When the case resumed, one of the lawyers from Akwa Ibom, Nsikan Ukpong, stood up and identified himself as Effiong’s lawyer.


He identified others in his team as B.A Onikoyi, Evans Duru, Mrs. Nse Obot, F.O Ojomo and Mrs. V. Effiong.


The prosecution, Mr. W.A Quadri, however, urged the court not to take Effiong’s plea due to some legal technicalities.


Quadri maintained that the Attorney-General of the state, Mr. Ade Ipaye, was interested in the case and prayed the court to defer Effiong’s plea.


“I pray the honourable court that the plea and arraignment be deferred,” he said.


Balogun adjourned the case till July 4, 2012.


Effiong, an orphan, had told Ipaye and representatives of the OPD, during a visit to the prisons to evaluate the number of awaiting trial persons, that she had been in detention since 2008 because she could not afford the services of a lawyer.


She had said, “In 2008, I bought a Starcomms phone for N10,000 in order to start a business centre. A few days later, a man called me and said the phone was stolen from him. I told the man I didn’t know it was stolen. We had an agreement that I should return the phone and he would refund my money.


“I gave the man my address but when he got to my place, he said the phone was stolen from him along with his laptop and some other vital documents. He accused me of being a thief, called the police and had me arrested. I was charged with robbery and have been in Kirikiri since then as my trial has yet to begin.”


Effiong said she was arrested at her guardian’s house in Ebute-Meta but was transferred to the Ilupeju Police Division from where she was arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court.


She said although she was 16 at the time of her arrest, the Investigating Police Officer claimed she was 21 so that she would be tried as an adult


The magistrate remanded her in Kirikiri prisons to await the DPP’s advice, which was only given in 2012.


The DPP’s advice was that she should be charged under Section 427 of the Criminal Code which means she will be charged with receiving stolen property.
source:punchng.com