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Tag: Iniubong Umoren

  • Iniubong Umoren: Court Sentence Uduak Frank Akpan To Death By Hanging

    Iniubong Umoren: Court Sentence Uduak Frank Akpan To Death By Hanging

    Justice Bassey Nkanang of a High Court in Akwa Ibom State has sentenced Uduak Frank Akpan, murderer of a job seeker, Iniubong Umoren, to death.

    Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Nkanang ruled that the convict would die by hanging.

    He, however, discharged and acquitted the second accused, Frank Akpan, (father of the convict) and third accused, Bassey Anwan (sister of the convict).

    Justice Nkanang sentenced Akpan to life imprisonment for the case of rape, and death by hanging for the case of murder.

    The judge held, “The defendant, Uduak Frank, Akpan confessed that “I first used condom to have sex with Iniubong Umoren and later removed the condom because I did not enjoy the sex.

    “She became infuriated and I reached out to a stabilizer and a box iron and used it to hit her abdominal part and started to bled. I hit her again and she screamed. I used her jean trousers and strangled her and she became lifeless”.

    The deceased, Miss Umoren, a 26 year-old graduate of Philosophy from the University of Uyo, and an indigene of Nung Ita Ikot Essien, Oruk Anam local government area, was raped, murdered and buried in a shallow grave by the convict.

    It was gathered that Uduak Akpan lured the deceased to his family residence at Nung Ikono Obio village in Uruan local government area for a job interview in April 2021, where she was killed.

    Umoren was an orphan awaiting her call-up to the mandatory National Youth Service programme before she was murdered.

    While in court, the convict tried to escape but was caught.

  • Iniubong Umoren killing: Court adjourns for accelerated hearing

    Iniubong Umoren killing: Court adjourns for accelerated hearing

    An Akwa Ibom State High Court 6, sitting in Uyo, on Wednesday adjourned for accelerated hearing the case of murder involving one Uduak Akpan

    The presiding Judge Justice Bennett Ilamoh adjourned the case to 1st , 2nd,4th, 10th,11th,15th and 16th November and 1st, 2nd,13th,14th and 15th December respectively.

    Uduak Akpan the first accused person is standing trial over alleged murder of one Iniuobong Umoren, a 26-years old graduate of Philosophy of the University of Uyo, who he allegedly lured, raped and murdered in the pretext of offering her a job.

    Akpan’s father, Frank Akpan who is the second accused is being prosecuted on one count charge of accessory.

    The first accused had, in his first arraignment in court pleaded guilty to murder charge while returning a no guilty plead to the second charge bordering on rape

    Ilamoh adjourned the case for accelerated hearing after one of the witnesses, Iniuobong Umoren’s sister testified in court

    The trial Judge also struck out the application for bail filed by the counsel to second accused, Barrister Emms Ekongson because the application came by way of summon rather than motion.

    The state Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Barrister Christopher Udo, who represented the state commissioner of Justice, Uko Udom, however declined comments.

    However, the State coordinator of the legal Aid Counsel Barrister Sampson Adula, who is standing in for the first accused, Uduak Akpan, said he is in the case for the sake of justice, but said the court would move with speed as required.

    “The case of the accused persons was opened today as you are aware. The first witness has testified in parts, we have not concluded our examination, the matter has been adjourned to later dates after the vacation we will all continue in summary that is what transpired.” Adula said.

    Counsel to the 2nd accused, Frank Akpan,, Barrister Emma Ekongson, expressed appreciation to journalists for their interest in the case but added that the case is subjudice and pending under a judge

    “I want to thank the press for their interest in this case and for publicizing it, secondly, the press should know that the case is subjudiced.

    ” It is pending under a judge and for that reason we all are duty bound not to make comments in respect to what is going on in the court.” Ekongson said.

  • I am prepared to die says killer of A’Ibom female job seeker

    I am prepared to die says killer of A’Ibom female job seeker

    Prime suspect in the murder of Miss Iniubong Umoren, the 26-year-old University of Uyo (UNIUYO), graduate of Philosophy, Uduak Frank Akpan, has confessed to killing her, saying he was ready to take the same punishment, “if found guilty.”

    The suspect, 20, was paraded along with his father by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Amiengheme Andrew, at the state headquarters in Uyo, on Friday, following allegations that the suspect had committed suicide in Police custody to shield other accomplices.

    But the state Police Commissioner, Mr Aniegheme Andrew who said he was “under pressure from within and outside Nigeria to reveal the truth behind the rumour”, described the allegation as unfounded and blamed the social media for the gaffe.

    ” I have been inundated with several calls all over the world that the prime suspect in the murder of Miss Iniubong Umoren has committed suicide in Police custody”, he recalled, wondering why a suspect could kill himself, using his trousers as suicide rope in Police cell where wearing of trousers is not permissible.

    He revealed in the investigation so far that no mass grave was discovered in the compound of the incident and promised that diligent prosecution would followed with case to be transferred from the homicide section to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) when all angles in the matter have been fully explored.

    Speaking to Newsmen, the suspect, a 200 level Public Administration student of Obong University, a private University in the state admitted to killing the suspect in self defence, after she accepted his proposal for a consensual sex but turned around later to “attack me with a stabilizer when I tried to bring condom”.

    “When I met her, I asked her whether she would like to work in a hard drug farm and she agreed.

    “When we got to the house, I asked her for sex and she agreed and insisted I use condom.

    “It was when I tried to remove the condom that she picked up the stabilizer and hit me and blood was coming out of my head. At that point, I grabbed the stabilizer and also hit her, trying make her submit peacefully.

    “It was not my intention to kill her, but if at the end of everything I am found guilty, am ready to also die.” He said.

    On allegation of other shallow graves, clothes, books and NYSC shoes discovered in the compound, the suspects denied that they belong to those he had killed earlier.

    “The NYSC shoes belong to my mother and we used it for farm work. The books belong to me and my sister”, he said, adding that the late Iniubong was the only lady that died among the six he had lured and slept with, using the same phony job offers as bait.

    He said he killed the late Iniubong in anger, after several rough experiences he had in the hands of those he described as “runs-girls and prostitutes”.

    Meanwhile, the remains of the late Iniubong were interred on Friday in his village in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, amid tears and kind words from school mates, family and sympathizers.

  • Iniubong Umoren: UNIUYO students mourn, cry for justice

    Iniubong Umoren: UNIUYO students mourn, cry for justice

    Students of the Faculty of Arts, University of Uyo on Tuesday took to streets in procession to mourn their slain colleague, Miss Iniobong Umoren, who was murdered and buried in shallow grave when she attended a fake job interview last week

    The students, numbering over 2000 in black outfits made specific call on wife of the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel to play her motherly role for the motherless by ensuring that justice is served.

    Speaking with newsmen during the procession, a leader of the 2015 entry set of the Faculty of Arts, Comrade Unyime Anietie said it was disheartening that their colleague have to die in such way after labouring so hard to go through school.

    Aniette appealed to the Commissioner of Police and the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to use Umoren’s case to demonstrate the value the government attached to the life of every individual.

    “Iniobong Umoren did not deserve to die, she didn’t have to die after all the stress she went through in school. We want to please appeal to Mrs Martha Emmanuel to use FYREP, her pet project to ensure the perpetrator of such act is brought to book.

    “If this is what it would take for rape and all other forms of gender- based violence to be brought to an end, then we appeal all stakeholders to see this case to a satisfying end. ” He said.

    While sending a message of condolences to family of their deceased colleague, he appealed to young ladies to avoid isolated movement to unknown places, also charged young men to desist from all forms of violence and sexual abuses against women.

    When contacted, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Uyo, Prof Joe Ushie decried that his late student, whose result he recently signed paid a supreme price as a double victim of a world that is morally dead.

    “She did not deserve to have been murdered. She is a double victim of a world that is morally dead, a world whose morality is dead. Double victim in a sense that if the society had been the way it ought to be, there could have been no way a young Nigerian who went through school through difficulty would have to follow an unknown person to an unknown place, just to get something to do.

    “So the society first offended her as it has offended almost all the youths of our country today. She paid the supreme price for society’s failure.

    “But we all are victims on one level, victims in a sense that we have nothing to hang onto. Even the ones who have jobs are feeling the pressure of the joblessness of others, in the sense that the little you have, if you have a human heart, would not be enough because you cannot become an island.

    “The whole University is bereaved, the whole University is mourning. it is not just about Faculty of Arts, it’s not about Oruk Anam students, it’s not about 2015 set. The whole thing is a shame, it is a disgrace that we have gone to the level of murdering fellow young Nigerians. It is like eating the flesh of our young ones.” Ushie lamented

  • A’Ibom abducted job seeker found buried in shallow grave

    A’Ibom abducted job seeker found buried in shallow grave

    A young female graduate from Akwa Ibom, Miss Iniubong Umoren earlier reported missing when she went for a job interview has been reported murdered and buried in a shallow grave by her abductor.

    The deceased was said to have last Thursday, went for a “job interview” at an undisclosed location on Airport Road on the outskirts of Uyo.

    It was gathered that her abductor and prime suspect, Uduak Akpan, from Nung Ikono Obio in Uruan Local Council has confessed to his crime.

    She was reported to have made a frantic phone call possibly while struggling with her abductor where she was heard screaming before the call was abruptly ended while phone line has been switched off since then.

    As the social media went viral with her story after her friend who lived in Lagos raised an alarm over her disappearance, Nigerians on social media provided evidence, locations, contacts and almost everything needed to unmask her kidnapper with the hope that the intelligence provided would help in finding her.

    The suspect was alleged to have taken the late Umoren to his house where an argument ensured and in the process, he used an object to hit her on the head resulting in her death. He was alleged to have hurriedly buried her in a shallow grave and ran to Oron to hide.

    Following pressure by the Police and Nigerians on social media, Oron became uncomfortable for him and he ran back to Uruan where the Chairman of Uruan LGA, Surv. Iniobong Ekpeyong was said to have met his own cousin, a suspected accomplice in the case and asked him to bring the accused to him.

    “When he was taken before the Chairman, he was asked to be truthful about what actually transpired. It was there he confessed to his Local Government Chairman that he actually killed and buried her in a shallow grave.

    .”A shocked Surv Ekpeyong had no choice but to call the DPO of Uruan LGA and handed over the suspect to the Police for further investigation and prosecution.” A source said.

    Meanwhile the police have confirmed the arrest of the 20 year old suspect for kidnapping, raping and murdering Umoren.

    A statement from the state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon in Uyo on Sunday said that, “the Command received a report on the disappearance of the victim.

    “Following available leads, men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command, led by Csp CSP Inengiye IGOSI, consolidated on the initial great progress made by the DPO Uruan, SP Samuel Ezeugo and arrested the perpetrator who confessed to have lured his victim to his house in the guise of giving her a job, but ended up sexually and physically assaulting her which led to her death. To cover his tracks, he dragged and buried her in a shallow grave in his father’s compound.

    “The deceased has been exhumed and deposited at UUTH for autopsy. The suspect confessed to have told his Local Government Chairman of his atrocity before escaping to Calabar and was never at anytime handed over to the Police by anyone.

    “Suspect is a confessed serial rapist who has owned up to the raping of other victims. He will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.

    “The Commissioner of Police, CP Amienghene Andrew has called on youths and job seekers to be wary of the activities of scammers and other men of the underworld. While appreciating the efforts of the social media family and other fighters of injustice, he has condoled with the family and friends of the deceased.” The statement said.

    Before the unfortunate incident the deceased had tweeted via her handle, @HinyHumoren, that she needed a job and some persons had suggested prospective employers to her.

    “#AkwaIbomTwitter please I’m really in need of a job, something to do to keep mind and soul together while contributing dutifully to the organisation. My location is Uyo, I’m creative, really good in thinking ctitically and most importantly a fast learner. CV available on request.” She had tweeted on Tuesday.