The Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo has remanded the Akwa Ibom State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. Ewa Okpo, over alleged defamation of former senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Barr. Effiong Bob, with the matter now transferred to the Federal High Court in Abuja after the magistrate court declined jurisdiction.
Okpo, who was arrested following a petition reportedly filed by Bob, is accused of making defamatory statements against the former senator on social media.
The magistrate court declined his bail application and ordered that he be remanded at the Uyo Medium Custodial Centre pending further proceedings. The case has been fixed for July 21, 2026, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, after the lower court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
According to sources familiar with the dispute, the case arose after Bob reportedly defended the administration of Governor Umo Eno and urged critics of the government to be constructive in their comments. Okpo allegedly responded through a Facebook Live broadcast that Bob considered defamatory, prompting the petition to the Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare.
A legal practitioner familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, said Okpo was arrested at his residence on June 30, 2026, before being arraigned at the Uyo Magistrate Court on July 1.
“He was arraigned before the Uyo Magistrate Court on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The matter was adjourned until July 21, 2026, after the court raised the issue of jurisdiction, and the magistrate ordered that he be remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre, Uyo, pending further proceedings,” the lawyer said.
The lawyer appealed to members of the legal profession and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Uyo Branch, to intervene, noting that all the principal actors in the matter are lawyers.
“Barr. Okpo is a lawyer, Senator Bob is a lawyer, and the matter is before a court presided over by a lawyer. I believe it will not be too difficult to call all the parties to order,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the PDP has expressed concern over Okpo’s detention, describing it as an infringement on freedom of expression.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, appealed for calm and assured party members that the PDP would provide the necessary support to its Akwa Ibom State spokesman as the legal process unfolds.
