Akwa Ibom High Court has adjourned the alleged murder case of Iniubong Umoren, the 26-year-old graduate of Philosophy of the University of Uyo, for accelerated hearing in the matter beginning from November 1.
The late Iniubong was lured through a phony job offer and was later raped and killed by one Uduak Frank Akpan.
Akwa Ibom State High Court 6 in Uyo, the state capital, Wednesday, which resumed hearing in the murder case said the adjournment was to aid the parties involved in bringing more evidence.
Ifiok Umoren, who is the first prosecution witness in the matter, gave an insight into how her sister informed her through WhatsApp message of being invited by Uduak Akpan, the first accused for a job interview on April 29, 2021 in Nung Ikono Ufok in Uruan Local Government Area.
She told the Court that her sister sent her the phone number of Uduak Frank Akpan to confirm the location of the interview, since she did not know Nung Ikono Ufok.
Umoren said she was shocked to trace the death of her sister to Uduak Frank Akpan by circumstances of the fact that he was with her sister when she met her death.
The evidence in chief by the first prosecution witness was not concluded, neither was she cross examined when the Court adjourned to 1st November, 2021 for continuation of the evidence.
Uduak Akpan, the first accused had in the inaugural pre-trial session, confessed to the crime and pleaded guilty over alleged murder of Iniubong.
Earlier, during the pretrial, counsel to Uduak Frank Akpan, Sampson Abdula, Esq had objected to the confessional statement of the first accused person in which he admitted that he murdered Iniubong.
Abdula, who is the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, also told the Court the first accused will be calling four witnesses including Uduak Frank Akpan.
He applied to the Court for four trial days and urged the State to make available its exhibits listed in the proof of evidence.
“The case of the accused persons was opened today as you are aware. The first witness has testified in parts, we have not concluded our examination, the matter has been adjourned to later dates after the vacation we will all continue, in summary that is what transpired,” he explained.
Akpan’s father, Frank Akpan who is the second accused, is being prosecuted on one count charge of accessory after the facts.
Justice Ilamoh adjourned the case for accelerated hearing and after one of the witnesses, Iniuobong Umoren’s sister testified in court
The trial Judge also struck out the application for bail filed by the counsel to second accused, Barrister Emms Ekongson, because “the application came by sermon rather than motion.”
The presiding Judge Justice Bennett Ilaumoh adjourned the case to 1st, 2nd, 4th, 10th,11th,15th and 16th November and 1st, 2nd,13th,14th and 15th December respectively, for accelerated hearing.
The state Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Christopher Udo, who represented the state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, Uko Udom, however declined comments.
Counsel to the 2nd accused, Frank Akpan,, Barrister Emms Ekongson, expressed appreciation to journalists for their interest in the case and charged them to realise that the case is sub judice and pending under a judge
His words: “I want to thank the press for their interest in this case and for publicizing it, secondly, the press should know that the case is subjudice.
“It is pending under a judge and for that reason we all are duty bound not to make comments in respect to what is going on in the court.”
