By Solomon OKPO
The trial of a Facebook user, God’sown Monday Udoito, also known as Princess God’sown Udoito, over alleged defamatory publications against the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, commenced on Thursday at the State High Court sitting in Uyo.
At the opening of proceedings, the prosecution called its first witness, Emmanuel Nicholas Udo, Esq., Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Documentation and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Uyo Branch.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness (PW1), Udo popularly known as “Aguda” told the court that he became aware of the defendant through her Facebook account, where she allegedly posted several videos which, according to him, posed a threat to the internal security of Akwa Ibom State and the safety of the Governor.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Friday Itim, Esq., the witness stated that the defendant published videos alleging that Governor Umo Eno fraudulently sold ancestral lands belonging to Ekid people to a private company, BUA, and embezzled the proceeds.
PW1 further testified that in another video, the defendant accused the Governor of collecting lands from the people of Ikot Ekpene Udo, his hometown in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, allegedly paying inadequate compensation, while warning that a similar action on Ekid land would not succeed.
According to the witness, the defendant also claimed in one of the videos to be a custodian of certain traditional deities of Ekid land, which she allegedly invoked against the Governor, members of the government and others purportedly involved in what she described as fraudulent land transactions.
Udo told the court that the defendant further accused the Governor of stealing, described him as a liar, and alleged that he was using the cover of government to commit fraud. She was also said to have referred to the Governor as an “arrangee Governor” and his administration as an “arrangee government,” while questioning his educational qualifications and describing his PhD as “Doctor of Ikpa Road.”
The witness added that the defendant claimed the Ekid people nurtured and groomed the Governor and called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and international agencies to intervene, alleging that the Governor was using his office to take over ancestral land.
PW1 maintained that the defendant’s publications constituted a threat to the internal security of the state and the safety of the Governor, prompting him to instruct a lawyer to petition the State Commissioner of Police to investigate the allegations in order to safeguard lives and public order.
At the close of his testimony, the prosecution informed the court that it had filed a notice for additional evidence dated February 3, 2026.
In response, defence counsel, Akpadiaha Ebitu, Esq., former Chairman of the NBA, Eket Branch, told the court that the notice was served on him in court via a flash drive, which he had not yet accessed. He requested time to review the contents, citing the requirement for adequate service under the law.
Following submissions by both parties, the prosecution suspended the use of the video evidence for the time being, allowing the witness to proceed with oral testimony only.
After hearing counsel, the trial judge, Hon. Justice Winifred Umohandi, adjourned the matter to Wednesday, February 18, and Thursday, February 19, 2026, for continuation of hearing and cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.
A notable feature of the day’s proceedings was the appearance of Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, Esq., who informed the court that he was observing the trial on the mandate of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Clifford Thomas, Esq., also announced his presence, stating that he was representing the human rights community as a trial observer.
