A High Chief in Oro nation, Hon. Effiong Eso Ononokpono, was Friday, March 26, 2010 at about 11am remanded in prison custody until May 14, 2010, by the Chief Magistrate's Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Weekly Insight checks reveal that the 75-year old Okobo-born political activist was arrested on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from his Odobo-Okobo residence by a team of policemen from the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, led by the Division Police Officer of Okobo, on the orders of the state government for a publication he made in page 11 of The Nation Newspaper of Thursday, March 25, 2010, titled: “Questions for Governor (Barr.) Godswill Akpabio.”
In the said publication, the former National Assembly member and close ally of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, earned the ire of the Akwa Ibom State Chief Executive, Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio.
The elder statesman who played a prominent role in the creation of Okobo Local Government Area was arraigned in court on a two-count charge.
The Charge Sheet No: MU/106/2010, tiled: “Commissioner of Police vs. Effiong Ononokpono” reads in part; “That you Effiong Ononokpono (m) on the 25th day of March, 2010 published false News in the Nation Newspaper of 25th March, 2010 to the effect that the Government of Akwa Ibom State is using public funds to sponsor cultism in Akwa Ibom State with intent to cause alarm to the public and thereby committed an offence Country to Section 66(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000.
“Count II, that you Effiong Ononokpono on 25th day of March, 2010 published defamatory matter in the Nation Newspaper of 25th March, 2010 to the effect that the Government of Akwa Ibom State has been paying ransom to kidnappers knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence Country to Section 384 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria 2000.”
The prosecuting counsel in the matter was the Permanent Secretary in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice and Solicitor-General, Mr. Donatus Archibong, while a human right lawyer, Barr. Francis Ekanem led other prominent lawyers like Joe Ukpong, Nyong Nyong and Nkeruwem Udofia to defend Ononokpono.
The trial Magistrate, Mr. Edet Obot, after hearing the motion on the bail application of the Oro High Chief by his lawyers and counter-motion by the prosecuting counsel, ordered that Chief Effiong Ononokpono be remanded in prison custody till May 14, 2010, when the court will deliver ruling on the bail application which the matter was adjourned to.
The former Honorary Adviser on Strategy to ex-governor Victor Attah, was taken to the prison in a white Toyota Hilux Van with registration no.: NPF2068C.
Weekly Insight however had a chat with the former lawmaker who represented Nigeria in the Commonwealth of Parliamentarians to get his comment and he said that while in the police custody, he was not mal-handled by men of the Police Force, adding that his house was searched by the police and nothing incriminating was found before he was taken away from his Odobo-Okobo house.

the man

Gen. Godswill Akpabio. This man is really a wicked man. How I wish people will torture him at old age too. Has he a father ?

He is dead, just read it on facebook. May his soul RIP

For dissent:
The good-The case went to court, he did not send thugs to kill the man
The Bad-He is using federal police that are not directly under his control to quiet a common man, what if we have state police?
The ugly-The judge not throwing out the case

I ve just read online, ononokpono is gone. May his soul rest in peace.

I love the Art portrait art of Governor Godswill Akpabio and wife done by Ayeola Ayodeji: Nigerian Artist.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMZaGOUMcYs