Drama as Umoren’s killer attempts to escape after death sentence

There was some minor drama in the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo, on Thursday, just after Justice Bassey Nkanang gave Uduak Akpan, 21, the death penalty for the murder of Miss Iniubong Umoren, a 24-year-old philosophy graduate from the University of Uyo (UNIUYO).

The late Umoren was killed in April of last year while trying to get temporary work before starting his required NYSC service. Using a phoney employment offer on social media as bait, the guilty Akpan ultimately lured her, raped her, and killed her.

But when it dawned on him that he would be hanged for the crime, he attempted to escape when escorted from the dock to the waiting van but was stopped on time by security operatives.

The court also sentenced the accused to life imprisonment in the second charge of rape, while his father, Frank Akpan and sister, Anwan Bassey Akpan, accused of co-accomplices, were freed.

Speaking after the judgement, the state attorney general and commissioner for justice, Mr Uko Udom, expressed satisfaction over the ruling on the matter.

Speaking on the next line of action, the commissioner added: “As you can see, the first defendant has been led into custody and the 2nd and 3rd defendant have been discharged and acquitted, we intend as a state to analyze that judgement and see if there are any grouse and take a decision, but the judge has done a good job”.

The death penalty is authorized by Section 33 of the Constitution of Nigeria. However, the state Governor still needs to sign the death sentence before execution.