Umoren: Sentenced to death, killer rapist Akpan tries to kill lawyer in court; defence lawyer says client deserves death

Uduak Frank Akpan, the first accused in the murder of Iniubong Umoren, a job seeker in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

In the over two hours of judgement by the presiding Akwa Ibom High Court, Judge, Bassey Nkanang on Thursday, the convict was found guilty of murder and is to be hung by the neck till he dies.

He was also found guilty of rape and is to be committed to life imprisonment.

Akpan stood trial for over nine months for luring Umoren to his residence where he raped, killed and buried her in a shallow grave in his father’s compound.

Justice Nkanang discharged and acquitted the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were Uduak’s father, Frank Akpan and sister, Anwan Bassey respectively alleged to be accessaries after fact.

He said the prosecutor failed to prove beyond every reasonable doubt that the defendants were culpable of the offence

“This court has proved beyond reasonable doubts that you, Uduak Akpan is guilty of murder and you are charged accordingly. You are to die by hanging until you rot away,” he said.

After the pronouncement, the convict jumped out of the dock, and grabbed a lawyer by the neck, trying to smother him.

Security agents however restrained and beat him down before taking him away.

Speaking after the judgement, the State Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN, expressed satisfaction over the ruling on the matter

“I thank the presiding judge over the way and manner this matter has been conducted. The judge was able to take a day out, tried the case on a day-to-day basis and at the end of the day, we had a judgement that the justice system works. We are very happy about the outcome of the case

Reacting to the judgement, counsel to Uduak Akpan, Samson Adula said a lot of people were interested in justice in the matter, adding that justice had been served.

“All we are interested in is justice, and justice has been done, the person that was supposed to be convicted has been convicted, and the other two defendants were discharged and acquitted, that is the justice of the case. The work of defence counsel is to ensure the rules were followed and not to defend at all cost” he said.

Ephraim Umoren, the late Umoren’s brother,  expressed satisfaction in the judgement and commended Governor Udom Emmanuel and his wife, Martha Emmanuel for their support to the family

“I’m happy that justice has already been done and I want to thank the governor and the wife for standing by us.”