Prime suspect in the alleged rape and murder of Akwa Ibom jobseeker, Iniubong Umoren, makes u-turn, denies knowing her

 Uduak-Abasi Akpan, the guy detained in the alleged rape and murder of Miss Iniubong Umoren, a 26-year-old Akwa Ibom jobseeker, has denied knowing the dead. 

Remember that Inubong Umoren went for a job interview after she posted on Twitter that she was looking for work and that Akpan allegedly requested her to come in for an interview. She informed her best friend, who became alarmed when she received an audio message from Ini screaming, after which Ini's phone number was no longer reachable. Akpan was apprehended by the police after confessing that Ini wasn't his first victim.

On Wednesday, April 6, while being taken to open his defense before the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo, the state capital, Akpan denied knowing two women named Miriam Akpan and Blessing Sunday, who the prosecution said were also his rape victims.

In response to a query from his lawyer, Samson Adula, who requested him to inform the court what he knew about the rape and murder charges brought against him by Iniubong Umoren, Akpan said:

"My Lord, I am unfamiliar with Miss Iniubong Umoren." When I was served with the procedures of this trial at the prison, I only learned that name. Regarding the second charge of rape, my Lord, I have no knowledge of rape. "I've never raped a woman." 

The accused, in relation to the alleged rape of one Miriam Akpan and Blessing Sunday, said: 

"I'm not familiar with those two names." My Lord, I can affirm that Miriam Akpan and Blessing Sunday's charges were nothing more than a ruse."

When the prosecuting attorney, Christopher Udoh, questioned him whether he remembered that when he was brought to court for trial on July 26, 2021, in relation to late Umoren's case, he had pled guilty to the charge of murder and 'not guilty' to rape, he answered the court that he was devastated that day. He went on to say that the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, Archibong, had requested him to plead guilty to the charge of murder. 

During cross-examination, Akpan also informed the court that on April 29, 2021, he visited his father, Mr. Frank Akpan (second accused person), and the two of them departed the compound together.

When asked who returned to the House first, he claimed it was him or his father. 

"I don't recall when my father returned to the House. I never returned to the House after that. My Lord, I spent the night in Agnes Inyang's house in Osongama Estate, Uyo, where she is a relative." 

In his defense, the accused stated that on April 29, 2021, he left his family compound in Uruan LGA for a business meeting with one Gregory Udofia in Uyo, who he said wanted to sell his property in town. 

He further informed the court that on April 30, 2021, he traveled to Calabar, Cross River State, to see her younger sister, Anwan-Bassey Akpan, the third defendant.

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