Alleged murder case: Community insists on prosecution of monarch

Tony Okoh, Uyo

Eket Integrity Alliance, a socio-political group in Eket, has demanded the arrest and prosecution of Owong Prof. Effiong Bassey Archianga, the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

The group cited a federal government judicial panel’s indictment of the monarch for murder and arson dating back to 1993 as the basis for their demand.

In a release signed by the Secretary General of the group, Barr. Peter Akpan, Eket Integrity Alliance condemned Effiong Archianga for his inciting outbursts, citing the Akwa Ibom Map Law as the reason behind the monarch’s actions

Eket Integrity Alliance disclosed that Archianga was indicted for murder and arson by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up in 1993 by the then military government to unravel the mystery surrounding the dispute between Eket, Uquo Ibeno, Mbo and Onna local government areas.

The Commission was headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ephraim Akpata.

“In 1993, Effiong Archianga sold out his Ekid people to Ibeno, a settler clan. Archianga joined Ibeno to commit genocide against the people of Esit Urua in Eket Local Government Area between December 1992 and April 1993 in the fight to annex Stubbs Creek, land of the Ekid people to Ibeno.”

“The Federal Military Government appointed a Panel of Inquiry into the disturbances and in Page
86 of the Panel’s Report, Effiong Archianga was indicted for murder and arson and recommended for prosecution.

“But it is sad that rather than answering to charges preferred against him, he frog-leaped into becoming a village head”

The group described the Akwa Ibom Map Law as the perfect gift from Udom Emmanuel which put an end to the many years of lies and mischief that Archianga and his cohorts have been thriving on.

“We are very much aware that this State Law which Chief Archianga and his trouble seekers are fighting against, is currently in a court of competent jurisdiction. His anger and bile against Mr Emmanuel stem from the fact that the former Governor, acceded to the voice
of natural reasoning by righting years of injustice and deprivation that defied every legal means of containment.”

“Effiong Archianga as expected, will always whine and moan about the Akwa Ibom Map Law as one of his problems because Udom Emmanuel toed the part of peace by giving the State its first ever gazetted map hence putting an end to the lies and deceit Archianga and his cohorts have been peddling for years especially over the ownership of the Stubbs Creek Forest despite the 1918 Privy Court judgement.”

Eket Integrity Alliance also frowned at Effiong Archianga for consistently beating drums of war through his utterances against Ekid Nation which his origin can be traced.

The group also called on the Ibeno Paramount Ruler to desist from heating the polity at any given opportunity especially when the State Government had forbidden Royal Fathers from granting interviews, especially on contentious issues in the state.

“It is noteworthy that the self-acclaimed ‘Professorial’ royal father’s short memory has prevented him from remembering the directive of the State Government, that forbids all
monarchs from granting interviews, especially on contentious issues.

“This is especially more disturbing, given the huge investments, personal appeals and massive efforts of His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, to institutionalize peace across all parts of the state.

They further revealed that the title of Professor which Archianga parades, is also a subject of controversy.

“We won’t be tempted to dig deep into his questionable title of Professor which he believes is gotten as a traditional title.

“It is alleged that Archianga sometime in 2022 harboured a certificate syndicate in his Ibeno residence called Saint Thomas-a-Becket University, claimed to be headquartered in Canterbury, England with a branch at Ibeno Nigeria.”

“However, checks revealed that such a university is not recognized by the British
Department of Education nor recognized by the Nigerian Universities Commission NUC.”

“Archianga arrogated to himself, a professorial title in the same year for his role in harboring the syndicates, an allegation he is yet to counter to date.” the group said.

Eket Integrity Alliance further called on peace-loving Akwa Ibom people to ignore the rantings of the Ibeno Monarch as Pastor Umo Eno and immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel remain partners in the peace and progress of the state.