A former Minister of Lands and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has come hard on what he described as a media trial and campaign against the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, stressing that the ploy was targeted to tarnish his reputation.
Essien, who was also a former two-term member of the House of Representatives who specifically called out Mr. Oliver Fejiro, maintained that the US-based activist who recently set up an office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has a track record of targeting former governors of oil-rich states, using the media to declare them guilty before any real evidence is produced.
Addressing journalists in his country home in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, the octogenarian said, “He did the same with former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, last year, and now he has set his sights on Udom Emmanuel.”
According to Essien, “I have been observing with keen interest the latest drama in the long-standing tradition of sensational media trials, where self-proclaimed crusaders embark on arranged campaigns, luring unsuspecting persons into what ultimately amounts to an elaborate extortion scheme.
He added, “A notable figure in this game is Mr. Fejiro Oliver, whose so-called “anti-corruption” enterprise is based in the United States but curiously set up an African office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on February 3, 2025. I am tempted to say that his sudden affection for Akwa Ibom is remarkable.
“This is not Mr. Oliver’s first job, and I don’t think it will be his last because last year, he tested the waters with former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Whether that endeavour yielded financial windfalls or regrets remains his secret. However, the pattern is clear: oil-rich states are prime hunting grounds. His latest target is former Governor Udom Emmanuel.”
Read Also: NDDC Executive Director Projects Has Failed To Learn From History – Dr. Ndueso
He further highlighted, “The most striking aspect of this unfolding drama is that when Mr. Oliver first made his allegations, he had no tangible evidence against his supposed target. Yet he proceeded with the familiar strategy of media trial. On January 8, 2025, he boldly declared that he would submit a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Deacon Udom Emmanuel by the following Monday. He further alleged that the former governor was in a state of panic and had dispatched an advance team to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to block the petition.
He averred, “This begs the question: Since when has the IGP become the gatekeeper for petition submissions to the EFCC? Has the anti-graft agency suddenly imposed a “No Entry for Petitioners” policy that only Mr. Oliver knows about? Perhaps he expected a grand reception, complete with a brass band and red carpet for his submission, and, when that failed to happen, resorted to crying foul.
“Adding intrigue to the saga, he needlessly dragged my name—Hon. Nduese Essien—into the fray, alleging that I was “hired” to appear on Arise News or Channels Television to defend Udom Emmanuel. It was an interesting claim, considering I had no prior knowledge of or involvement in the absurd drama.”
“With all the noise surrounding the anticipated petition, one would have expected swift action. Instead, despite the media frenzy, the grand petition did not surface until January 21, 2025—a full two weeks after the much-publicised announcement. What does this reveal? Simple: Mr. Oliver was fishing for evidence. He hoped that certain individuals in Akwa Ibom would supply him with just enough material to write his petition. It appears his gamble paid off, as he eventually cobbled together a petition, and the court of public opinion announced its verdict.”
The former minister said he had previously criticised former governors, Udom Emmanuel, Obong Victor Attah and Chief Godswill Akpabio, but never for financial inducement, personal gain, or public appeasement but rather, on principle.
He intoned that accountability is fundamental, but it must be pursued through legitimate channels. “Justice is not served by reckless declarations of guilt in the media to advance a particular agenda.”
The Minister wondered why the media trial has also drawn in Senator Ita Enang, an experienced legislator and seasoned government figure who will align himself with Mr. Oliver’s tactics.
“One would have expected a man of his standing to champion substantive legislative reforms against corruption rather than lending credibility to what increasingly appears to be a manufactured controversy.”
He described as very absurd the attempt to rope in Senate President Godswill Akpabio into the raging issues, saying that as the third-ranking political figure in the country, he should be preoccupied with matters of national importance.
“It is laughable to suggest that he has the time or inclination to entertain a media-driven witch hunt. Furthermore, let us not forget that Senator Akpabio has had a share of scrutiny from anti-graft agencies. If we are truly committed to accountability, it should be applied uniformly, without bias or selectivity.”
He called for total rejection of the ethnic undertones creeping into this issue, stressing that corruption, accountability, and the rule of law transcend ethnic affiliations.
“Whether one hails from Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, or any other part of the state, the law remains the law. Those purporting to fight corruption must do so with fairness and objectivity, rather than sowing discord along ethnic lines to manipulate public sentiment.”
“At some point, we must differentiate genuine demands for accountability from opportunistic grandstanding. Public officials are, by default, subject to scrutiny by the EFCC, ICPC, and other anti-graft agencies. If there are legitimate grounds for prosecution, due process will take its course. Until then, let us refrain from fuelling baseless media trials. And, above all, I will not allow my name to be co-opted into this circus for the sake of sensationalism.”
