Lawyer, Kinsmen Seek Withdrawal Of Defamation Suit Against Gov Eno’s Critic

Akwa Ibom State High Court 8, Metro Road, Uyo, headed by Justice Winifred Umohandi, has adjourned to February 8 and February 9, 2026, for further hearing of a defamation suit filed against Governor Umo Eno’s critic, Princess God’sown Udoito.

Ahead of the resumption of the hearing, a human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong and kinsmen and other concerned parties have called for the withdrawal of the suit against Udoito, from Esit Eket local government area.

The social media crusader is on trial for allegedly running a campaign of calumny against the governor, accusing him of land-grabbing without compensation, citing the controversial Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.

But Effiong, who appeared as an observer during the resumed hearing of the case at the weekend, cautioned that such a matter, which he described as “flimsy and frivolous”, has the tendency of distracting the government from delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

Udoito, a female rights activist, was arraigned by the police on a six-count charge involving “criminal defamation, threats, publication of false information and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.”

The charges, according to the police, arose from a petition dated 10th January, 2026, alleging that the defendant, using her Facebook account, “Princess God’sown Udoito,” with over 20,000 followers, published and circulated false, misleading, defamatory and threatening statements and videos.

But, speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the proceedings, Effiong expressed concern over the governor’s devotion to be haunting people who speak truth to power, arguing that prosecuting such a case against Citizen Udoito, “is a drain on the state government’s resources which ought to have been channelled into more serious state issues.”

”I’m here as the secretary of the Citizen Liberty Committee (CLC) of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). I also happen to be the alternate chairman of the Citizen Engagement Committee (CEC) of NBA. These are committees the NBA has constituted to enable us to monitor cases of this nature and also intervene in matters touching on the rights of the Nigerians. So, the case of this lady, Princess God’own Udoito, is one that has elicited interest.

“Speaking as an Akwa Ibom person, the governor, who has a responsibility to cater for his people would not be involved in monitoring people who claimed to have control over their gods. I was not frightened by what she said.

”And let me also tell the media that Princess Udoito is not the only one that the governor is targeting, there is a lawyer in Akwa Ibom State that the governor is also going after, simply because he is speaking against him. I have seen an invitation extended to him by the police on the same flimsy and frivolous allegations.

”The fact that you are the governor does not mean you can simply use the police to harass people. We have murder cases in Akwa Ibom, we have cases of stealing in Akwa Ibom, these are matters the commissioner of police should be concerned about, but he seems to be bothered about the emotions of the governor.

“So, I personally as an Akwa Ibom citizen demand that this case should be discontinued, it is a waste of the resources of the state, there are more serious things that the resources of the state can be devoted to,” he said.

During the proceedings, the first prosecuting witness, Emmanuel Nicholas, a senior special assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Legal Documentation and former chairman of NBA, Uyo, presented a video evidence before the court where the defendant allegedly abused the governor.

Responding, the defence counsel, Akpadiaha Ebitu, told the court that the notice was served on him in court via flash drive and has not accessed it. He also prayed the court to give him time to review the video and come back for informed response.

The trial judge, Hon. Justice Winifred Umohandi, adjourned the matter to Wednesday and Thursday for continuation of hearing and cross examination of the first prosecution witness.

Meanwhile, the people of Esit Eket local government area, who are Princess Udoito kinsmen, have apologised to the governor over the alleged insults by their daughte, and appealed for the withdrawal of the matter.

Tendering the apologies on behalf of the Esit Eket LGA leaders, elders, women, youths and other stakeholders, a lawyer, community leader and former member of the House of Representatives, Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr, acknowledged that Governor Eno, a compassionate leader does not victimise critics.

The former lawmaker said that Princess Udoito was wrong in her manner of engagement.

“We know that when you abuse a man’s family and his integrity, let alone insult the governor, then you are wrong. We know the governor, through the attorney-general, has the powers to halt that prosecution, but he must have good justifications and good reasons to do so.

“I want to beg on behalf of these women and the people of Esit Eket, please forgive God’sown Udoito, let her come back home,” he pleaded