Justice Bassey Nkanang of the Uyo High Court has set August 4 for the ruling on the murder of Iniobong Umoren.
Late Miss Umoren went missing on April 29, 2021, after she was invited for a job interview by one Uduak Akpan in a location along the Airport Road, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
She, however, sent a distress voice note to a friend shortly after leaving for the interview, shouting, “Jesus o! Jesus o!!,” which prompted a search for her.
Ifiok Umoren, her elder sister, had filed a report at the Itam Divisional Police Station less than 25 minutes after receiving her sister’s distress call.
Instead of acting on the report, the police told the distraught woman to go home and that they could only act after 48 hours.
The police negligence triggered a social media outrage and a hastag: #HinyUmoren trended on Twitter thereby prompting the police to launch an investigation into the matter.
Days after Miss Umoren’s disappearance, Okido Macdon, spokesperson of Akwa Ibom police command, said that Mr. Akpan had been arrested in connection with the case.
Mr. Macdon further explained that the accused confessed to having lured Miss Umoren to his house in the guise of giving her a job and sexually and physically assaulted her, leading to her death.
An investigation by David Hundeyin had expanded the scope of the crime and offered new insight persons who had contacts with the accused person after he committed the crime.
Further investigation by Ibanga Isine and Ndifreke Jacob had shown that the Police not only compromised the investigation of the case but also shamelessly lied to cover up many aspects of the crime.
On Monday, July 26, Uduak, who was arraigned alongside his father, Mr. Akpan on charges of murder pleaded guilty before an Akwa Ibom State High Court.
He later backtracked, claiming that he admitted liability for the murder of the jobseeker under duress.
Many hope the court’s ruling will bring closure to the gruesome rape and murder of the jobseeker and satisfy Nigerians who demanded justice for her and her family.
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