By our Reporter
The State High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced Uduak Akpan to death for raping and murdering a female job seeker, Iniubong Umoren, in the state last year.
The judge, Bassey Nkanang, in his judgement on Thursday, said the convicted man will be put to death by hanging.
Mr Nkanang also found Mr Akpan guilty of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The judge said the prosecution has proved beyond doubt the case of rape and murder against Mr Akpan.
He, however, discharged and acquitted the father and sister of Mr Akpan, who were the 2nd and the 3rd defendants in the case.
After the judge read out the judgment, the convicted rapist attempted to escape from the courtroom but was overpowered by security officials.
Mr Nkanang took over two hours to finish reading the judgement.
It would be recalled Ms Umoren went missing on 29 April 2021 after she was lured out of her home in Uyo with a fake job interview by Uduak Akpan.
The victim’s friend, Uduak Umoh, said she heard her scream for help when she established contact with her on the phone.
Ms Umoren, before her death, was a fresh Philosophy graduate of the University of Uyo. She was waiting for her deployment for the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Programme.
Ms Umoren did not live to see her mobilisation letter for the programme or even her final-year result – she graduated as one of the top students in her department.