By Divine Sam
The Ekpri Nsukara Offot Village Council has again condemned what it describes as a sustained smear campaign against the Village Head, Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo, allegedly orchestrated by Udeme Eyo Asuquo under the banner of the Voice of Liberation Network (VLN).
According to the community, Asuquo and his associates began circulating falsehoods after their preferred aspirant lost the 2023 village headship contest. Village leaders say the group has constantly fabricated stories and sponsored petitions aimed at tarnishing the image of Eteidung Asikpo and destabilising the community.
In a statement dated Saturday, November 29, 2025, signed by Comrade Morris Silas Bassey (Village Council Chairman), Elder Domingo Bassey Etim (Secretary), and Pius Okon (Youth President), the village urged the public to disregard an online publication by Sahara Reporters of November 27 titled “Akwa-Ibom Residents Petition Tinubu, Accuse Police Officers, Village Heads Of Land-Grabbing, Attempted Murder.”
The council insisted that the petition referenced in the report could only have originated from Udeme Eyo Asuquo, as it bore the name of his group, VLN.
The community recalled that on February 27, 2025, Asuquo submitted a petition to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, which led to the arrest and detention of Eteidung Asikpo from March 8 to 12 at the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and later at the Police Headquarters in Abuja. The petitioners, however, reportedly failed to present any evidence to support their allegations.
Following his release, the Police referred the matter to the Paramount Ruler of Uyo for resolution, yet Asuquo allegedly failed to appear for the scheduled hearing dates even after requesting adjournments.
Despite this, the village noted that Asuquo later filed another petition, leading to another arrest of the village head. Again, he allegedly failed to substantiate his claims and eventually abandoned the matter after sensing possible consequences for his actions.
The community leaders cautioned Asuquo to desist from maligning the village head and accept the outcome of the traditional leadership process.
Meanwhile, the High Court of Uyo, presided over by Hon. Justice Bassey J. Ekanem, has delivered judgment in favour of Eteidung Asikpo in a fundamental rights suit against Asuquo, Inspector David Etim, Fortune Bassey, and others. The suit sought enforcement of his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of movement.
The Court ruled that Asikpo’s five-day detention without trial violated Sections 35(1) and 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution. It further found that the complaint filed by Asuquo was malicious and unsupported by reasonable grounds, noting that the Police acted outside their powers by effecting an arrest and detention without due process.
Justice Ekanem stressed that although the Police are empowered to investigate criminal allegations,
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