A native of Nung Ikono Obio in Uruan Local Government Area, Uduak Frank Akpan, who is standing trial for murder of a job seeker and graduate of the University of Uyo, Miss Ini-ubong Umoren, has pleaded guilty to the charge.
The matter came up before Justice Bennet Illaumoh, who has ordered the accused and his father, Mr. Frank Akpan to be remanded in Custodial Centre, Uyo, pending the commencement of their trial.
While Uduak Akpan pleaded guilty of murder, with is punishable by death, he however pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape, which provides for life imprisonment, in section three-six-seven of the Criminal Code, Laws of Akwa Ibom State.
His father, Frank Akpan, a retired Deputy Director in the Federal Civil Service, pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of accessory after fact for assisting his son to escape from his residence in Nung Ikono Obio, Uruan, where the Oruk Anam-born graduate of Philosophy, was invited for a job interview on 29th of April this year.
The father and son are being charged by the State in a suit number: HU/18/C/2021.
The Prosecution team lead by the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Uko Udom, had earlier applied to the Court for the amendment of a section of the particulars of the offense to remove the clause that stated that the accused person, Uduak Frank Akpan did kill IniubongUmoren and replace it with the word “murder, an application that the Court granted.
The Attorney General is leading a team of other senior lawyers from the State Ministry of Justice, including the Director of Public Prosecution, Barr. Johnson Umoren, Barr. Friday Itim, a Deputy Director of Prosecution, Barr. Iniobong Essang, Assistant Chief Counsel and Barr. U.A Inyang, Principal State Counsel.
Earlier, there was a mild drama in the Court when Uduak Frank Akpan was asked about the whereabouts of his lawyer; he mentioned the name of father’s lawyer, who denied representing him in the case.
The lack of legal representation prompted the Court to appoint a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council to give the accused person constitutional right to a fair hearing in line with the provisions of the law.
Atti Annang, a socio-cultural organization in Annang land, where the late Iniubong Umoren hailed from, was represented by Barr. Utibe Nwoko, just as the family of the deceased was represented by Barr. Emmanuel Umoren.
Reports say the case has been adjourned to Wednesday, 18th of next month for pre-trial.
