Akwa Ibom Job Seeker: Alleged Killer Of Umoren Makes U-Turn, Pleads Not Guilty

The self-confessed killer of a job seeker in Akwa Ibom State, Iniubong Umoren, Uduak Frank Akpan, has made a u-turn, pleading not guilty.

Akpan is standing a trial over the murder of Umoren, whom he allegedly lured under the guise of offering her a job, raped and murdered.

Recall that the suspect following his arrest and the beginning of the trial before Justice Bennett Illaumoh pleaded guilty to the murder case.

The suspect, however, while appearing before Justice Bassey Nkanang alongside others allegedly involved in the case pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges of murder and rape preferred against him.

The father of the suspect and his sister, Frank Akpan and Anwan Bassey Akpan also pleaded not guilty to the charge of accessory before the fact and obstructing arrest.

This is coming after the chairman of the Uruan local government area, Surveyor Iniobong Ekpeyong, and one Kufre Effiong who were given witness summons appeared and gave evidence in court.

Ekpeyong while sharing his evidence before the court revealed how he aided the arrest of Apkan who incidentally is his cousin.

The Local Government Chairman further stated that he knew about the murder of Umoren when his attention was drawn to a social media post that the father of the suspect had been apprehended by the police.

He further stated that he received calls from people asking him to intervene because the father of the suspect, a retired deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Health was sick and needed urgent medical treatment.

Ekpeyong disclosed that he reached out to one of his cousins, Kufre Effiong, and the DPO of Uruan LGA who converged at his Ewet Housing residence where Akpan admitted to killing the lady.

Justice Bassey Nkanang who adjourned the case to Monday, November 15, 2021, promised to give an accelerated hearing with a view to passing judgment before Easter, 2022.