The Akwa Ibom State High Court Tuesday summoned the Chairman of Uruan Local Government Area, Mr. Surveyor Iniobong Ekpenyong appear in court as a witness over the alleged murder of job seeker, Iniubong Umoren.
Iniubong a Philosophy graduate of University of Uyo was allegedly murdered by one Uduak Akpan in Nung Ikot Ufok in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom earlier in the year.
Justice Bassey Nkanang, who just resumed newly in the court after the former Justice Bennett Illaumo was substituted ordered the witness summon be served on the chairman at his Ewet Housing Uyo to appear on November 4 for plea taking and pre-trial session.
The summon is in connection with the confessional statement by the chairman that he facilitated the arrest of his cousin, Uduak Akpan being the first accused person in the murder charge.
The court also issued a witness summon on one Kufre Michael Effiong of 16 Esuene Street, Uyo as well as the sister of the deceased, Ifiok.
Besides, the court issued a warrant compelling the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Uyo, to produce one Anwan Bassey Akpan, the 3rd accused in the murder of the late Iniubong, who was lured, raped and killed through a phoney job offer on social media in court early this year.
The order followed her absence in the court after she was arrested and detained for allegedly obstructing the arrest of his brother, Uduak Akpan, the prime suspect in the case.
In the amended charge, the court issued a trial denovo to three indicted suspects, Uduak Akpan, father of the prime suspect, Frank Akpan and the sister to the prime suspect, Akpan Anwan Bassey Akpan.
The Solicitor-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Christopher J Udoh who is next in rank to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State led the prosecution council on Tuesday.
Mr. Emms Ekongson made a return appearance for the second accused, Frank Akpan on Tuesday while Mr. Sampson Adula appeared for the first accused, Uduak Akpan.
Both the prime suspect, Uduak Akpan and the second accused, Frank Akpan appeared in court under the custody of warders and were remanded again following a directive by the trial judge. The court directed that the first accused, the second accused and the third accused must be made to appear in court on Thursday.
The State Solicitor-General, Mr. Christopher J. Udoh, had during the proceedings prayed the Court to issue the production warrant since the third accused person was not in court.
He also informed the Court that the initial charge filed in June has been substituted with the amended one filed on October 29, 2021, in order to join the third accused person who was arrested recently and joined in the suit.
The two Counsels to the defendants in the matter, Emms Ekongson and Samson Adula however, did not raise any objection to the prayers by the prosecution Counsels.
Addressing journalists, the immediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, expressed happiness over the seriousness that the state government has attached to the case.
He also expressed happiness that the sister of the first accused person (Uduak Abasi Akpa) who had created some level of complications in the process of apprehending the culprit has also been arrested and charged.
Nwoko said: “This case that has a great deal of public interest, and I am representing the interest of Ati Annang socio-cultural organization, from the ethic extraction where the deceased came from. We are going to follow up on the proceedings up to the end of the matter.
“I am very happy today that His Lordship, the new trial Judge who is just resuming new in this court has done something very unique.One, he has decided to sustain all the dates that his predecessor adjourned the case before, which is about 10 days.
“Two, we now have the principal accused person, with the father, and the sister charged together for complicity in the death of our dear sister Iniubong Umoren. Right now the Prosecution team is led by one of the best, the Solicitor General of the state.
“And that shows the level of seriousness that government is attaching to this matter. And we as a Socio-cultural organization also representing the family of the deceased, we are interested in getting to the bottom of the case.
“Good enough there is an amendment to the charge. The initial charge carried two names, which was the main accused person and the father. Now the sister has been added”
