RismadarVoice Reporters
February 3, 2026
A Facebook user, God’sown Monday Udoito has been arraigned before Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo over alleged defamatory publications against the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno.
The defendant, a native of Esit Eket Local Government Area, was docked on a five-count charge preferred against her by the State. The prosecution was led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Friday Itim, Esquire.
The charges border on conspiracy, publication of defamatory matter, conduct capable of causing extreme fear, nuisance and seditious publication, contrary to Sections 504 and 332 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2022, as well as Sections 6 and 57 of the Internal Security and Enforcement Law, Volume 4, Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2022.
According to the prosecution, the defendant, sometime between August and December 2025, at Afaha Eket Road, off Marina Road, Eket in Eket Local Government Area, within the Eket Judicial Division but triable in the Uyo Judicial Division, allegedly published defamatory statements on her Facebook account bearing the namePrincess God’sown Udoitoto”, knowing the statements to be false, against the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
In Count 3, the prosecution alleged that the defendant, within the same period, at Ekpene Obo Village, Esit Eket Local Government Area, claimed to be the custodian of certain deities and threatened to invoke such deities against Governor Umo Eno, an act the prosecution said was capable of causing extreme fear, alarm, apprehension and undermining public peace and internal security in the State.
In Count 4, the prosecution further alleged that the defendant, between August and December 2025, at various locations in Eket Local Government Area, repeatedly made, published irritating, abusive and provocative videos on her Facebook page, thereby conducting herself in a manner constituting nuisance, capable of causing annoyance, discomfort and disturbance to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
The 5th count, bordering on seditious publication, alleged that the defendant, between 1st August 2025 and 10th January 2026, published seditious videos on her Facebook page with the intent to bring hatred and incite disaffection against the Governor, accusing him of selling Eket ancestral land and embezzling the proceeds.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
Following her plea, defence counsel, Akpadiaha Ebitu, Esquire, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Eket Branch applied for bail.
He argued that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, that the offences are bailable and that the defendant had no previous criminal conviction.
Mr. Ebitu assured the Court that the defendant would provide reasonable sureties, be available for trial and would not interfere with the course of justice.
Counsel relied on the provisions of Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Akwa Ibom State 2022, as well as Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
However, the DPP, Friday Itim, Esquire, opposed the bail application and drew the court’s attention to a counter-affidavit, particularly paragraph 9, wherein the prosecution expressed concern that the defendant was likely to jump bail.
The prosecution cited the authorities of Bamaga v. State and Asari Dokubo v. State, arguing that the offences were serious, grievous in nature, and carried severe punishment of up to 14 years imprisonment without option of fine.
He urged the court to note that decided cases support the position that there was a real likelihood of the defendant absconding if granted bail.
The prosecution further submitted that should the court be inclined to exercise its discretion in favour of bail, it should impose stringent conditions in the interest of justice and public order.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Winifred Umohandi, refused the bail application but ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.
The matter was accordingly adjourned to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for hearing.
