Ekpo Masquerade To Spend Christmas, New Year In Prison

The travails of the Ekpo masquerade, the custodian of the traditional deity and spiritual heritage of the Annang ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State, is to spend the Christmas and new year in prison custody.

For this, there appears to be no respite in sight for the masquerader, identified as one David Effiong, who was arrested on the orders of the Commissioner of Police (CP), Baba Azare, for alleged terrorism and breach of public peace, following the ban on masquerades’ activities on major roads and other open spaces in urban areas by the Governor Umo Eno.

He was re-arraigned afresh before the State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene local government area.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that Effiong was docked on a fresh charge in the suit between Commissioner of Police v. David Effiong, barely 24 hours to the scheduled hearing of a related matter at a Magistrate Court in Uyo, the state capital on Friday.

The prosecution follows Effiong’s arrest on Thursday, December 2, 2025, in Ikot Ekpene, where he was alleged to have caused public disturbance while fully adorned in Ekpo masquerade regalia, a traditional attire deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Annang ethnic nationality.

Recall that on Tuesday, December 9, the Police had earlier brought the masquerader before a Magistrate Court in Uyo, seeking his remand through a motion ex-parte.

However, the request was stoutly resisted by Barr. Ekom Nwoko, who appeared pro-bono for the suspect.

In a spirited submission, Nwoko had urged the court to draw a clear line between culture and criminality, arguing that Ekpo masquerades remain a recognised cultural institution in Akwa Ibom State.

He contended that the Police failed to establish any probable cause justifying Effiong’s continued detention.

Relying on Section 293(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), Akwa Ibom State, 2022, the counsel submitted that the prosecution’s affidavit did not disclose facts sufficient to warrant a remand order.

He further invoked Section 294 of the ACJL, praying the court to admit the defendant to bail, stressing that the allegation neither bordered on terrorism nor any grave offence contemplated by law.

After listening to arguments from both sides, the Magistrate declined the Police application for remand and granted Effiong bail, with conditions including one surety, two passport photographs,  a valid national identification and residency within the court’s jurisdiction.

But in a dramatic twist that threw the courtroom into instant murmuring, oblivious of contempt, no one came forward to perfect the bail for the Ekpo, representing the ancestral spirit of its forebears.

No fellow masquerader, drummer, troupe member or other representatives of the Ekpo deity could come up to perfect the bail conditions for his freedom.

Left without a surety, the Ekpo masquerader was escorted back into the Uyo Correctional Centre, despite securing bail.

With the fresh arraignment at the High Court, legal observers say Effiong is now likely to spend the Christmas and New Year festivities behind bars, pending further proceedings.

The High Court has adjourned the matter to January 22, 2026, for hearing and possible consideration of bail.