HOW A LETTER OF UNRESERVED APOLOGY FROM PRINCESS GODSWON UDOITO TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PASTOR UMO ENO, PH.D., CONTRIBUTED TO HER RELEASE ON BAIL BY A VACATION COURT IN UYO: THE FACTS AND THE WAY FORWARD

HOW A LETTER OF UNRESERVED APOLOGY FROM PRINCESS GODSWON UDOITO TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PASTOR UMO ENO, PH.D CONTRIBUTED TO HER RELEASE ON BAIL BY A VACATION COURT IN UYO: THE FACTS AND THE WAY FORWARD

By Anietie Jackson, Esq

I am Anietie Jacksons, Esq., a lawyer and President of the Ekid Development Forum (EDF) and a proud member of the Ekid Peoples Union (EPU).

It is important to place on record, for the information of all interested persons, associations and organisations, particularly the sons and daughters of Ekidland in Nigeria and the diaspora, the circumstances surrounding the release on bail of our daughter, Princess Godsown Monday Udoito, who had been in custody at the Federal Correctional Centre, Uyo. A great deal have been said on social media about the circumstances surrounding the release of Princess Godsown Udoito. Some of the comments appear to have been based on misinformation or a misunderstanding of the events. There have also been suggestions that His Excellency, Pastor
Umo Eno, facilitated her release because of the forthcoming elections. That suggestion is not consistent with the circumstances as I witnessed them.

I am writing this as someone who is directly involved in the process that led to the mediation, the presentation of the Letter of Unreserved Apology and the subsequent steps towards her release. I therefore consider it important to place the facts before the public as clearly and accurately as possible. This is not an attempt to speculate about motives or engage in social media debates. It is simply an account of the events as they occurred, based on my direct involvement in the process. I am writing to state the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Let me make it clear, Princess Godsown Udoito was not released as a result of intimidation, threats or any attempt to interfere with the Judiciary or the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The matter before the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, sitting in Uyo, concerns allegations of threats, cyberbullying and defamation in Suit No. HU/12C/2026, in which His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D., was identified as the nominal complainant.

I consider it necessary to set out, as clearly and accurately as possible, the circumstances that led to the release of Princess Godsown Udoito on bail on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by a Vacation Court sitting in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

The release followed a process of mediation and reconciliation in which Princess Godsown personally wrote and signed an unreserved Letter of Apology to His Excellency, the Governor. The apology addressed the grievances arising from her conduct and advocacy and was presented to the Governor through a delegation of respected traditional rulers, religious leaders and other persons who had intervened in the matter.

The Governor received and accepted the apology and expressed his willingness to forgive the Princess. The subsequent release on bail, however, remained subject to the appropriate judicial and legal processes.

It is therefore important to distinguish between the Governor’s decision to forgive and the Court’s decision to grant bail. The former arose from the reconciliation process; the latter was a
judicial decision made within the legal process. This is the context in which the Letter of Unreserved Apology became significant. It helped open a path towards reconciliation, forgiveness and, ultimately, the steps that led to Princess Godsown Udoito being granted conditional bail.

This story cannot be properly understood without first acknowledging the character of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D. He is a pragmatic leader, a father and a Governor who has consistently demonstrated love, orderliness, sincerity and respect for the traditional institutions of the State and for the people entrusted to his leadership.

It is important to emphasize that the eventual intervention did not happen overnight. It followed persistent appeals by highly respected Traditional Rulers, clergymen, politicians, men and women of goodwill from the business community, Non-Governmental Organisations and others who, at different times, approached His Excellency and appealed for compassion and reconciliation. These interventions took place against the background of the grievances which, according to the account presented, had arisen between the Governor and Princess Godsown Udoito, including matters relating to his person, his family, his office and his community, following the manner in which the Princess had conducted some of her advocacy.

At a certain point, the case appeared to have reached an impasse. Although the trial court had accelerated the hearing, an early resolution still appeared distant. Meanwhile, Princess Godsown
was facing the personal difficulties arising from her circumstances. Her condition had become a matter of concern, made even more painful by the death of her father and by her separation from her business, as well as from the companionship of her children, family and friends. It was against this difficult backdrop that the various appeals for compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation became increasingly important. The objective was not to interfere with the judicial process, but to seek a peaceful resolution within the bounds of the law and through the willingness of the parties to reconcile.

However, I personally contacted several people, both within Nigeria and outside Nigeria, to help broker peace and seek the Governor’s pardon for Princess Godsown Udoito. Of all those approached, only one patriotic “son of the soil” (name withheld), an Advocate and experienced conflict resolution practitioner, agreed to intervene, but on one condition: that Princess Godsown Monday Udoito must be willing and prepared to write a personal, unreserved letter of apology to His Excellency, the Governor. He considered this central to any meaningful resolution of the matter.

Following this intervention, the Ekid Development Forum (EDF) which I preside over, wrote to His Excellency to facilitate the presentation of a personal and unreserved apology by the Princess, in accordance with whatever terms and conditions the Governor might require in considering her pardon (Photocopy attached). The matter concerned the issues that had led to her arrest and trial in the ongoing defamation case and other related matters between the State and the Princess, pending before High Court 8, Metro Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in Suit No. HU/12C/2026.

The letter, duly signed by our General Secretary, Ben Ndedde, Esq., and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sir (Engr.) Edidiong Umoetuk, was well received by His Excellency. In the letter, the Ekid Development Forum expressed concern about the manner in which the Princess had conducted some of her advocacy and appealed to the Governor to consider forgiving her. His Excellency, in response, indicated that he would receive such an apology if the Princess was genuinely contrite.

The personal Letter of Unreserved Apology from Princess Godsown Udoito, dated Friday, July 10, 2026, and addressed to His Excellency, was subsequently routed through the President of the Ekid Development Forum and the President General of the Ekid Peoples Union, the apex sociocultural organisation of Ekidland.

The Princess personally signed the letter in the presence of His Royal Majesty, Edidem E. C. D. Abia, FCA, the Attah of Ekid, and the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Mr. E. E. Inyang, ACA (MSI). A copy of the letter is attached as evidence that it was personally authored and endorsed by Princess Godsown Udoito.

Our mediator (name withheld) thereafter contacted His Excellency to arrange for the formal presentation of the letter.

On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, a nine-member delegation was arranged to meet with His Excellency at the Governor’s Office, Hilltop Mansion, Uyo. The delegation comprised His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon D. Etuk, JP, CFR, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers; His Royal Majesty, Edidem E. C. D. Abia, FCA, the Attah of Ekid and Paramount Ruler of Eket Local Government Area; Her Majesty, Obonganwan Mandu Abia, wife of the Attah of Ekid; His Royal Majesty, Edidem Ubong Peter Assam, Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket Local Government Area; His Royal Majesty, Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang, FCA, CPA, the Enin Akwa Afaha and Supreme Leader of the Afaha People Worldwide; Archbishop (Senator) Helen Esuene, Founder of the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness; Rev. (Prof.) Godwin Amaowoh, Professor of Religion and General Secretary of Assemblies of God, Nigeria; Dr. Samuel Udonsak, President General of the Ekid Peoples Union (EPU); and Anietie Jacksons, Esq., my humble self, President of the Ekid Development Forum (EDF).

The delegation was led by His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon D. Etuk, JP, CFR. Archbishop (Senator) Helen Esuene and Rev. (Prof.) Godwin Amaowoh were unavoidably absent. His Royal Highness, HRH Nsoduok Etteudo Ikot, the Clan Head of Ekid Offiong, represented the Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket Local Government Area.

Also present at the meeting were senior Government officials, including Prince Enobong Uwah, Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State; the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State, Uko Udom, SAN; and CP Baba Mohammed Azare, Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State.

The personal Letter of Unreserved Apology was read to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D., by His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon D. Etuk, JP, CFR. The Governor listened to the letter, received it and accepted the Princess’s unreserved apology.

Following the presentation, His Excellency, the Governor, who was identified in the account of the mediation as the nominal complainant in the matter, declared that he had pardoned Princess Godsown Monday Udoito and directed the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State and the Commissioner of Police to commence the necessary processes towards her release.
The Commissioner of Police subsequently outlined the steps expected to accompany the process. These included the following:

(1) Confirmation that the Princess personally authorised and endorsed the Letter of Unreserved Apology;

(2) Retracting, during the bail period, the statements and other expressions she had made against the person, family, office and community of His Excellency through the same social-media platforms on which they had been published;

(3) And, demonstrating humility, respect and good conduct while undertaking her advocacy activities within the limits of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The process of securing her release necessarily involved the relevant constitutional, legal and judicial procedures. It therefore did not happen instantaneously, despite the Governor’s
expression of pardon and the steps directed by him.

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Princess Godsown Monday Udoito was granted conditional bail in the sum of ₦200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira). We are hopeful that at the next hearing, scheduled for October 5, 2026, the Attorney General of the State may enter a nolle prosequi, which would bring the prosecution to an end, provided there are no further developments arising from the matter.

It is important to place these facts before the public as accurately as possible, without embellishment or distortion.

Our benevolent mediator (name withheld) wishes to sincerely thank His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D., for accepting the Princess’s unreserved apology and extending forgiveness to her. We also extend our sincere regards and enduring respect to all the delegates and other individuals who gave their time, effort and influence towards achieving this act of reconciliation, forgiveness, peace and understanding.

We equally commend Princess Godsown Udoito for recognising where she had gone wrong and for having the courage and humility to accept responsibility and offer an unreserved apology to
His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D. An apology of this nature is not merely a collection of words. It requires an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, a willingness to make amends and, above all, the humility to accept responsibility for one’s actions. These qualities are reflected in the contents of her unreserved apology.

Our prayer is that the process will be completed peacefully and that, on October 5, 2026, Princess Godsown Udoito will be finally released, bringing this difficult chapter to a close.

We therefore appeal to all concerned to stop making damaging insinuations on social media and allow the law and the judicial processes already set in motion to run their course without
interruption and to ensure full compliance with the bail conditions imposed by the Court.

Thank you.

SIGNED:

ANIETIE JACKSONS, ESQ.
PRESIDENT, EKID DEVELOPMENT FORUM (EDF)