Tobias Sylvester
Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has sentenced Uduak Frank Akpan to death by hanging for raping and murdering a female job seeker, Iniubong Umoren.
Uduak Akpan Sentenced For Killing Iniubong Umoren
KanyiDaily recalls that Akpan was arraigned for the gruesome murder of Umoren, whom he lured under the pretext of offering her a job, before he raped, killed, and buried her in a shallow grave on April 29, 2021.
While being paraded by the police, Akpan confessed that he raped and killed the 26-year-old job seeker after luring her through advertising for phony job vacancies.
The 20-year-old suspect, who was paraded alongside his father, Mr. Frank Akpan, said he killed the job seeker to avenge what runs girls and prostitutes did to him.
Akpan had also in July, pleaded guilty to murder when he was first arraigned before Justice Bennett Illaumoh, who was later transferred from Uyo to Itu Judicial Division.
However, when he was re-arraigned before Justice Bassey Nkanang on November 4, Akpan made a u-turn and pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges of murder and rape preferred against him.
Umoren, before her death, was a fresh Philosophy graduate of the University of Uyo. She was waiting for her deployment for the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Programme.
In his ruling on Thursday, August 4, 2020, Justice Nkanang said the prosecution has proved beyond doubt the case of rape and murder against Akpan.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the second accused, Frank Akpan, (father of the convict) and third accused, Bassey Anwan (sister of the convict).
Nkanang read out the judgment which 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”.
Akpan attempted to escape from the courtroom shortly after the sentence was announced by Justice Nkanang, but he was overpowered by security officials.
KanyiDaily recalls that on May 14, 2021, Iniubong Umoren was laid to rest in her hometown, Nung Ita Ikot Essien, Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom state.
