Uduak Frank Akpan, the first accused person in the murder of Iniubong Umoren, a job seeker in Akwa Ibom State, has denied knowing the victim.
Recall that Umoren, a graduate of Philosophy, University of Uyo, was raped and killed allegedly by the suspect after he lured her with a job offer on Thursday, April 29, 2021.
Akpan had initially pleaded guilty before the Akwa Ibom State high court for the murder of Ms Umoren whose body was said to have been exhumed from his father’s residence in Uruan local government area of the state.
However, opening his defense at the State High Court in Uyo on Wednesday, April 6, the suspect said, “My Lord, I do not know Miss Iniubong Umoren. I only came to know that name when I was served with the proceedings of this trial at the Prison.
For the second charge of rape, my Lord, I do not know anything about rape. I have never raped anybody. I pleaded guilty because I had fever on that day and my IPO’s influence in the Court.”
After hearing the evidence, the trial judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, ordered that Uduak Frank Akpan who is standing trial with his father, the second accused person, Mr. Frank Akpan and his sister, the third accused, be remanded in Uyo Correctional Centre till the next adjourned date.
The case was subsequently adjourned to Monday, April 11, 2022 for further hearing.
