Uduakabasi Akpan, who was accused of killing Iniubong Umoren, a 26-year-old graduate of Philosophy from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has pleaded guilty to the murder. Umoren was lured out of her home with a fake job interview, raped and killed in April in the outskirts of Uyo.
Her remains were buried in a shallow grave in Mr Akpan’s family house where the crime took place. Uduakabasi, who was arraigned yesterday alongside his father, Frank Akpan before a State High Court judge in Uyo, pleaded guilty to murder but denied raping his victim. Frank, arraigned on a one-count charge of accessory after the facts pleaded not guilty. Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Bennett Illaumo, adjourned the case to August 18, 2021, for further hearing.
Speaking with newsmen after the proceeding, the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barr. Uko Udom (SAN), assured the public that justice would be done. He stated that a capital offence does not carry any time bar, adding that in the next ten years or more, anybody found guilty in the same matter can still be prosecuted.
Counsel to Uduak Akpan, Barr. Samson Abdullah said, “Before now I have no contact with the first accused. It is just today that I took over the defense of the accused, so the court called upon me to put up an appearance for the first accused person which I did graciously in line with the mandate of the counsel.”
DAILYTRUST
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