By Emmanuel Nduka
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has demanded a retraction and an “unreserved apology” from a journalist who linked him and his wife, Ekaete Unoma Akpabio, with the killing of 26-year-old job seeker, Ini-Ubong Umoren.
It would be recalled that Ini-Ubong who was laid to rest on Friday, May 14, was lured, abducted, raped and murdered on April 29 along Airport Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State by a supposed job agent.
The deceased who was orphaned at two years old, was scheduled to have a job interview with her killer.
THE ALLEGATIONS
Meanwhile, as more details surrounding the death of Ini-Ubong unfold, David Hundeyin, an investigate journalist, had reported that both Akpabio and his wife, alongside one Kufre Effiong and Frank Uduak, were all complicit in the abduction and murder of Ini-Ubong.
The journalist had on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, published a report on Newswirengr.com, in which he alleged that Frank didn’t commit the crime alone and that there is some evidence that the suspect collaborated with Kufre, a civil servant and Superintendent of Police, Samuel Ezeugo, among others.
He alleged that all those mentioned in the murder, are all syndicates to a ritual gang, specialized in extracting body parts for the said purpose.
The report added that both Kufre and Frank, constantly made use of Davok Suites, a popular hotel in the state, purportedly owned by Akpabio’s wife, to commit their illicit crimes.
The Heritage Times also gathered that the said accomplice (Kufre), is said to be a regular face at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, which houses the Niger Delta Ministry, which Akpabio oversees.
The journalist in his report, further fingered the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in desecrating the crime scene to conceal evidence, and that there were bones of Akpan’s other victims spewed all over the site of Umoren’s murder.
AKPABIO’S REACTION
Akpabio who is still battling with the complexities surrounding the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Forensic Audit, and other corruption allegations slapped on him, now has more to do as per defending his integrity before Nigerians.
Reacting to the mirage of allegations through his lawyer, Otobong Inyang, Esq, Akpabio in a letter dismissed ties of the suspects with his family.
He however gave the journalist a 14-day ultimatum to do a retraction and tender a public apology, or risk litigation.
“The implications of the above statement which has enjoyed wide circulation as you would have expected or wished, cannot be lost on any reasonable person. They said statements without doubts were made to create the following impression:
“That Akpabio and his wife- Mrs Ekaete Unoma Akpabio were not only complacent in the death of Ini-Ubong Umoren, but are also members of a syndicate specialized in the procurement, sale, and/or use of human body parts for rituals.
“That Davok Suites alleged to be owned by Mrs Ekaete Akpabio, is used by members of this alleged syndicate, particularly Frank Uduak and Kufre Effiong to carry out their illicit transactions”.
The letter dated May 12, added that: “We hasten to make the point that assuming (through without conceding) that Kufre Effiong is a staff of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and/or one of itas contractors, senator Akpabio does not know, has never met and has never had any contact whatsoever with him
“Neither Akpabio nor his wife had anything whatsoever to do with the horrific death of Ini-Ubong Umoren, neither Davok suites (which is a corporate entity) nor the land housing it belongs to Mrs Akpabio”.
