3 Years as Media Aide: I am indebted to Governor Umo Eno – Ubong Creativity

3 Years as Media Aide: I am indebted to Governor Umo Eno – Ubong Creativity

On November 1, 2023, I was invited by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth and Sports led by Sir Monday Ebong Uko to participate in the draw for Governor’s Cup at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. As a keen supporter and promoter of Akwa United and someone who have been rooted for the club to win their matches, I was given opportunity by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko to pick the ticket.

After the event, Mfon Bassey and I, who participated in the exercise, were on our way back to Eket when my phone rang and it was Osundu Ahirika. He asked if the number he called me is my Whatsapp number, which I answered on the affirmative. He then asked about Mfon Bassey and I told him we are together in the same vehicle going back to Eket. I handed my phone to Mfon and they had brief conversation before the call ended.

That day, Akwa United had a football match at Eket Township Stadium and Mfon Bassey told me that immediately he alighted from the vehicle, he will be going to the Stadium. Since I was totally exhausted after the draw in Uyo, I decided to go and eat at a restaurant. While eating, I glanced through my Whatsapp and saw a message from the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah. I was desirous to read the content of the message. Behold, it was an invitation to have a meeting with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, at Government House. There was an instruction that the invite is for me alone and shouldn’t be shared to third party. I rushed the food, took a bike to the park and was on my way to Uyo. While I approached Uyo, Mfon Bassey called me and I told him that I received invite from the SSG and he said the same invitation has been extended to him. That was how we met at Government House and had a very interesting meeting with the Governor. He addressed us and offered his advice to us which I took back home.

On our way back to Eket, the press release about our appointment was already published on social media and there was thunderous calls from friends, acquaintances, political associates, relatives, and a host of others. My appointment as one of the Media Aides to the Governor was received with excitement across board even from opposition camps who have been agitating over the years that I should be given appointment for always supporting and promoting government. I lost count of calls, text messages and solidarity from people, even those I don’t know in person. It was indeed a beautiful moment in my life because I had been mocked and called all manners of names including “sycophant” just for supporting previous administrations in the State.

Few days after the appointment, the devil came knocking. On 18th of November, 2023, few days after I was appointed among Aides of the Governor, I received a call that I have been charged to court by Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun on cybercrime case. The instruction from CSP Alhassan Gambo was that I must be at Federal High Court Abuja on November 20, 2023, that if I failed to appear in court, a warrant of arrest will be issued against me and I will be arrested and taken to prison. I was a little bit worried and was asking questions like: Why now? All the years, I have always supported previous administrations in the State. I had formed support groups supporting former Governor, His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio, his successor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and registered PDP Fan Club at the party secretariat in Abuja, visited Kaduna, Sokoto, Gombe, Adamawa, Rivers, Cross River, Lagos, Bauchi, Plateau, among others, inaugurated chapters of the club to support government at all levels with nothing to show for it, why didn’t I have court issue then? Why now? I was sleepless throughout the night but I have no other option than to appear in court as was indicated in the charge.

So, on 19th November, 2023, I decided to embark on a journey to Abuja. While at Kogi State about 8pm, I received an invitation for all the newly appointed Aides to meet with the Governor. I couldn’t even reached out to my colleagues that I am not in town and I didn’t also want to resume duty with excuses. I arrived Abuja about 11.30pm and went to my cousin’s house at Gwarimpa to sleep. The following morning being November 20, I appeared in court with my co-defendant, Peace Ekom Robert and the charges were read to us which we pleaded NOT GUILTY. The former Attorney General of the State, Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN stood in for me as my Lawyer at the instance of my former House of Representatives Member, Otuekong Pat Ifon. After the charge was read to us and our Lawyer asked for the court to grant us bail, the Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of Federal High Court 10, Abuja, then ordered for us to be remanded in custodial center. While I was sent to Kuje Prison, Peace Ekom Robert was sent to Suleja Custodial Centre. I remained in Kuje Prison from November 20th till we were finally granted bail on December 16, 2023 with bail bond of N10 million each, with two surety in like sum with a landed property at Maitama area of FCT.

During the period of my incarceration at Kuje Prison, I was abandoned and neglected by people I have supported, promoted and projected. I was mocked by some friends and colleagues. Some said I deserves the incarceration. I totally agree with them. I took responsibility for my incarceration and also learnt from the experience. But one person that didn’t abandoned me but stood by me, supported me throughout the challenging moment of my life was Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong. He was there for me throughout the period and facilitated and paid for my bail bond at Federal High Court Abuja before I got my freedom on December 16, 2023.

Meanwhile, a day before I was invited for a meeting with the Governor, I was very sick and my phone was off. I sent it to be charged at my neighborhood and waited for about two hours for the phone to fully charge before I put it on. Immediately I switched on the phone, Mfon Bassey called me that he has tried all means to reach me but all to no avail. He then informed me that the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong is looking for me, that I should call him which I obliged. Immediately I called Mkpisong Frank Archibong, he requested to have my three names which I mentioned to him but the network wasn’t friendly, so he asked me to text to him which I did. The following day, I was listed among the Media Aides to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Why wouldn’t God bless Mkpisong Frank Archibong for being the ladder that helped me climbed to the top of the roof? God will continue to bless him and protect him against every evil plan.

WHY I WAS CHARGED FOR CYBERCRIME BY THE POLICE

Many people have said so many negative things about my incarceration at Kuje Prison but I want to use this medium to give account of what transpired. My greatest joy is that I was not caught in any criminal activities.

One night, I was lying on bed about 10pm and a colleague (name withheld) sent me a screenshot of a post made by a lady, Peace Ekom Robert and in the post she chastised someone that I know and respected. The said lady and I are not friends on Facebook. I don’t know her from Adam and never heard about her. The only time I knew about her was when Force PRO declared her wanted on alleged case of fraud. Many Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians taunted her, called her all unprintable names. But I didn’t join the bandwagon, instead I tried to reach out to her concerning the post she made against a distance friend. I saw the said post on her timeline that night the screenshots were sent to me, but when I woke up the following morning, the post was deleted. I then confronted her with the screenshots of what was sent to me by a colleague and she said an influential person in the State has persuaded her to take the post down. I asked her I hope you don’t have any issue with the person she made the post and she clarified that she doesn’t have any issue with him. I then asked for her number and engaged her why she was declared wanted by the Police which she narrated the whole story to me. That leads to the decision of hearing from the Senior Police Officer that was involved to balance the story. The Commissioner of Police called to give account of his own side of the story and promised to supply documents to back up his claim. Few hours after, the said senior police officer, Mr. Babazango Ibrahim, who is the Commissioner of Police, Administration, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, didn’t send the documents as promised. After an hour or thereabout, Peace engaged me in a chat on messenger that Police in their numbers have surrounded her building at Aaliyah Quarters in Abuja to arrest her and threatening her family members. She said I should share the information on my facebook to inform the public so that she won’t be killed like the case of Mohbad who had petitioned Police on some nocturnal activities but no action was taken and he was finally killed.

She told me that the transaction she did with her colleague, one Ifenyinwa Anthonia Olua, and another fellow who based in Spain has been lien by the bank, that Ifeyinwa has been threatening her to refund the said money, about $55,000 even when she knew that the money has been lien by the Spanish bank for suspicion of being illicit transaction. Peace narrated to me how the said Ifeyinwa made a video call with her and two men armed with rifle were threatening her and said when they finish with Ifeyinwa, they will come for her. She told me that she has petitioned IGP of Police, Interpol and invited EFCC to the case but no action was taken. Instead CP Babazango Ibrahim was threatening her to refund the money, dismissed that the money is lien in the Spanish bank. Instead, he accused her of using the money for her personal purposes. I think it was on the basis of Police not acting that she said I should raise a post to inform the public so that what happened to Mohbad shouldn’t happen to her.

Invitation Letter by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja

I made the post about her building being surrounded by Police and also shared her live broadcast when the officers entered the hotel to pick her. My post was generated from her statement which I published on my timeline. I also shared the petition she wrote to the IGP to dissuade some netizens that she is not a fraudster as alleged based on her side of the story. That post was my only crime and few days later, I was invited by Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Abuja which I honoured the invitation. I was interrogated by 3 Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) which I was finally granted bail which was signed by my former House of Representatives Member, Otuekong Pat Ifon. The following day, I was threatened by the Police to publish that Peace Ekom Robert is a SERIAL FRAUDSTER which I outrightly refused. I don’t know Peace Ekom Robert from Adam and never met her before and queried why they should asked me to post that she is a serial fraudster. When I refused to make the post calling her a serial fraudster, I was threatened with arrest and the Police said I shouldn’t leave Abuja. But I ignored their threat and proceeded with my travelling. At the AKTC Park at Jabi, after I removed my brother’s phone number as my next of kin to fill the manifest, my phone was shut down totally. Reason is that I recorded every conversations I had with the Police as evidence. That was my involvement in the issue which Police decided to charge me for Cybercrime.

While my colleagues were doing their documentation as appointees of the Governor, I was incarcerated at Kuje Prison. After spending 26 days at Kuje Prison, I was granted bail on 16th November, 2023, while the litigation commenced on February 2024.

I spent 2 years 6 months traversing to and fro Abuja to attend all court proceedings which was a MUST for me as one of the conditions for my bail. In the course of the case, I forfeited my website development training which I’ve paid money fully, I sold my laptop which I bought for the training, I sold my only land in Uyo, I sold my new generator and incurred a lot of debts, but in all these, I was not found wanting in the discharge of my responsibility as one of the Media Aides of the Governor. Despite the distractions and frustrations, I put in my best effort to promote, project and disseminate information about the ARISE Agenda Policies of Governor Umo Eno led administration in the State.

I want sincerely thank Barrister Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN for his sacrifices to defend me in court till I had victory. Your sacrifices are not taken for granted. I will soon visit to show appreciation. I thank Otuekong Pat Ifon who responded to my call at Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Abuja and signed for my bail without any prior notification. I also thank some of my friends who showed concerned for my freedom.

Some people were worried that if the Governor heard about my court case, that he will sack me. But I managed the situation and to the glory of God, we were discharged and acquitted by the court on April 2026, after going to and fro Abuja for 2 years and 6 months.

I want to use this medium to sincerely thank His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD for giving me the opportunity to serve in his administration. I’ve known His Excellency since early 2000 when I was working with Benchmark Surveys and Engineering Ltd, a survey company not far away from his business entity, Royalty Hotels and Recreation. My then boss, Surveyor B. J. Akpan will always sent me to him. I never knew he will get involved in politics because he was more committed to his hospitality business, until one day my younger brother, Ifreke David, who was a staff of Royalty Hotels told me his boss is not interested in State appointment but looking forward for Ministerial position. That was when the picture was more clearer. Today, I am grateful and privileged to be considered to serve under his administration as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. It is a privilege that I can’t take for granted. I am indebted to the Governor for accommodating so many of us to work with him.

Again, I want to also use this medium to thank him for re-awarded contract for the construction of Ndon Eyo-Ikot Akpatek-Ikwe-Odio Road. I frequently visited the road and must commend the company handling the Odio-Ikwe axis of the road. It has taken shape and our people are excited and thankful to His Excellency for his benevolence. God bless Governor Umo Eno for being a detribalized leader. I owe him all the applause for remembering me after years of toiling in politics with nothing to show for it. Though the devil came knocking, but I give glory to God for seeing me through the legal battle. To God be the Glory.

Ubong Creativity David
Personal Assistant to the Governor on New Media