By Emmanuel Ntekim
The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has admitted for identification a flash drive containing 13 video clips allegedly posted on Facebook by Princess God’sown Udoito, which the prosecution claims are defamatory to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno.
Udoito is facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, publication of defamatory matter, conduct capable of causing extreme fear, nuisance, and seditious publication.
The flash drive was tendered by the State Director of Public Prosecutions, Friday Itim, Esq., after the first prosecution witness, Ememobong Nicolas, Esq., Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Documentation, concluded his evidence-in-chief.
During proceedings on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the defence objected to the playing of the video clips, arguing that the witness did not create the contents and therefore they should not be admitted in evidence.
However, the prosecution maintained that the videos were to be played strictly for identification and authentication purposes. The court upheld the prosecution’s submission and allowed the clips to be played.
Some of the videos were presented in Ekid language.
During cross-examination, defence counsel, Akpadiaha Ebitu, Esq., requested the witness to write numbers one to twenty in Ekid and translate them into English to test his linguistic proficiency. The witness complied, and the handwritten figures were admitted as an exhibit upon the defence’s application.
Earlier, the defence had sought to vacate the March 4 hearing date, citing a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division, challenging the High Court’s refusal to grant bail.
The prosecution opposed the application, noting that the court had ordered accelerated hearing and that criminal proceedings cannot be stayed. It further argued that members of the defence team could attend the appellate proceedings while the trial continued.
Ruling on the application, the court directed that the matter proceed as scheduled, noting that the date was earlier fixed at the instance of the defence.
The trial judge, Hon. Justice Winifred Umohandi, adjourned the case to Wednesday, March 4, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.
The admitted flash drive and its contents are expected to form a key part of the court’s determination of whether the publications constitute defamation under Nigerian law.
