Akwa Ibom Job-Seeker: Suspected Killer Of Iniubong Umoren Pleads Guilty

The suspected killer of Akwa Ibom job-seeker, Iniubong Umoren, Uduak Akpan has pleaded guilty to the murder of the victim.

Akpan had lured Umoren out of her home with a fake job interview.

The 20-year-old Akpan and his father, Frank Akpan, were arraigned before the Akwa Ibom State High Court 6, on a three-count charge of murder, rape and accessory after the facts.

The duo is joined as first and second accused persons in suit no. HU/87c/ 2021 between the state versus the accused persons.

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The accused are standing trial before the court, having been accused of allegedly murdering one Iniobong Umoren, a 26-year-old graduate of philosophy of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Umoren was lured, abducted and later murdered on April 29, 2021, by the first accused, Uduakabasi Akpan, in the pretext of offering her a job, an offence which is punishable under section 326(1) of the criminal code, cap 33 vol.2, laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000 and rape which is contrary to section 367 of the criminal code,cap 38 vol, 2 of the Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.

However, when the charges were read during the arraignment, the first accused pleaded guilty to the murder charge but pleaded not guilty to the second charge bordering on rape.

His father Frank Akpan who is being prosecuted on a one-charge of accessory after the facts, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Consequently, the court presided over by Justice Bennett Illaumo adjourned the matter to August 18, 2021, for further hearing of the offence