An Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo on Thursday sentenced to death by hanging Uduak Frank Akpan for the killing of a graduate job seeker, Miss Iniobong Umoren.
The court also sentenced the 21- year- old Akpan to life imprisonment for raping the deceased.
The convict, in April 2021, had lured his victim to his father’s house in Uruan local government area under the pretext of offering her a job. He ended up raping and killing her.
According to The Nation, the trial judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang delivered the ruling that lasted for more than two hours on Thursday.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted the convict’s father, Frank Akpan and sister, BasseyAnwan, the 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
They were accused of accessory after the fact to murder.
Passing the death sentence, Justice Nkanang said: “This court has proved beyond reasonable doubts that you, Uduak Akpan is guilty of murder and you are charged accordingly. You are to die by hanging until you rot away.”
However, there was confusion in the court as the convict attempted to escape shortly after the sentence was announced by the trial judge.
He came out of the dock and immediately rushed out to escape before he was held at the door by security agencies, including the police and prison officers.
Speaking after the judgement, the Akwa Ibom Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Uko Udom expressed satisfaction over the ruling of the matter.
“I thank the presiding judge over the way and manner this matter has been conducted. The judge was able to take a day out, tried the case on a day- to- day basis and at the end of the day we had a judgement that the justice system works. We are very happy about the outcome of the case.’’
Speaking on the next line of action, the Commissioner said: “As you can see, the first defendant has been led into custody and the 2nd and 3rd defendants have been discharged and acquitted. We intend as a State to analyse that judgement and see if there are any grouse and take a decision but the judge has done a good job.’’
Commenting on the attempted escape of the convict, the Commissioner of Justice said he was not surprised at his behaviour.
He said: “It’s not something to be surprised about, some one that committed such gruesome offences and I’m not surprised for him to do something as bad as he did here but the officials were very alert and attentive that was why they stopped him
“I won’t fail to commend the officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS for their diligence in the prosecution of the matter. They did great jobs in the investigation though sometimes the public especially on social media accuse them of complicity but without their support, we won’t be here.’’
Iniubong Umoren, a graduate of Philosophy of the University of Uyo, UNIUYO, was killed on April 2021. She was job hunting while awaiting mobilisation for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
She was raped, murdered and buried in a shallow grave by a suspected serial rapist and killer, Uduak-Abasi Akpan, in April 2021.
Uduak-Abasi Akpan had lured his victim, who was 26 years old, to his family residence at Nung Ikono Obio village in Uruan local government area with a job offer where he had allegedly raped, murdered, and buried her in a shallow grave within the premises.
The body was later exhumed from the shallow grave by the Police team, who were guided by the prime suspect.
The then 20-year-old suspect was subsequently arrested after the body of late Miss Iniubong Umoren was exhumed by police in Akwa Ibom.
Recall that remains of late Iniubong Umoren was interred in her hometown at Nung Ita Ikot Essien of Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom State, on May 14, 2021, after a postmortem carried out by the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).
The deceased, an orphan and the last child of family of four, was raised by one Mrs. Ime Ekpo, following the demise of her biological mother when She was only two years old.
