By Omini Ofem Okoi
UGEP —Outrage is mounting in Ugep as fresh revelations suggest that the recent online tirades by Mr. George Ewa, popularly known as Ewa Malaysia, is less about “fighting for justice” and more about shielding his younger brother, Abaloke George from the full weight of the law.
Ewa has spent the past week circulating videos accusing the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount ruler of Yakurr, Obol Ubana of appointing “a drug baron” to handle the Mr. and Miss. Leboku pageantry, a segment of the world-renowned Leboku Festival coordinated for over five years by Mrs. Jennifer Ibiang.
But sources within the community say Ewa’s public grandstanding is nothing more than a vindictive smear campaign aimed at forcing Mrs. Jennifer to drop her criminal charges against his younger brother and ensure his release from prison.
Investigations reveal that Ewa’s younger brother, who is currently behind bars at Afokang prison, Calabar for armed robbery, cultism, and attempted murder- charges stemming from a violent attack on Mrs. Jennifer. He was said to have attacked Mrs. Jennifer with his boys in her home at Ugep. According to stories, he robbed her, shot her on both legs, and later confessed to using the guns allegedly supplied by his elder Brother -Ewa Malaysia.
Despite the gravity of the crime, Ewa and his family have repeatedly pressured Mrs. Jennifer to “accept” and initiate his brother’s release. When she refused, he resorted to smear campaign and peddling damaging allegations against her, even going as far as claiming that Hon. Cyril Omini, member representing Yakurr 1 State Constituency, would secure the release of his brother, which will be “a slap on her face” an allegation that Hon. Cyril has roundly denied.
Many have condemned his act of “blackmail disguised as advocacy,” warning that Leboku, a cultural heritage event of national repute, must not be dragged into personal vendettas.
Ewa’s self-styled image as an anti-drug and anti-cultism crusader is being met with derision among locals, who point to his own lifestyle. Some of his previous activities, which paints him in bad light and ineligible of being a crusader of decorum and righteous living, include but are not limited to the following:
Property Theft in Calabar– He allegedly stole a house along Murtala Mohammed Highway, behind Henz Building, before being arrested and bailed out by lawyers
Tractor Theft – He reportedly stole a tractor from land he falsely claimed ownership of; the machine was later dismantled and sold in bogobiri, and he was dragged to court
Fraud in Malaysia – Multiple accounts link him to large-scale fraud during his years abroad.
Long History of Swindling – From Abuja to Cross River, he is accused of defrauding individuals under false pretences. In early 2000, he posed as a painter and broke into the premises of a poor Ugep boy in Abuja who was making a living as a newspaper vendor and stole over N2m belonging to Ovasion newspaper and ran away, leaving the poor Ugep boy in problem with the owners of the money. He poses as a government-connected elite to extract money and valuables from unsuspecting people in society and lives a life of crime to make a living.
An elder in Ugep who doesn’t want to be disclosed while speaking on the issue summed it up bluntly:
“You can not go to equity with filthy hands. How can a man with such a record lecture a community such as Ugep on morality? This is hypocrisy of the highest order.”
The Leboku Festival is not just a cultural event. It is an economic driver, drawing sponsors, tourists, and media attention. Organisers fear that Ewa’s unsubstantiated claims risk scaring off partners and tainting the festival’s image.
“The peace in Ugep since his brother’s arrest is something we want to preserve,bNo amount of lies should be allowed to bring back the violence.” The elder continued.
As the war of words rages on, many in Ugep are calling for law enforcement to investigate the deeper criminal links hinted at in the unfolding scandal, and to ensure that the festival remains a celebration of heritage, not a stage for personal grudges and smear campaigns.
