More revelations are coming out of the brutal murder of the jobseeker, Iniubong Umoren, as Akwa Ibom State High Court, Tuesday, named Basseyanwan Akpan as an accomplice to the crime.
The court, presided over by Justice Bassey Nkanang also issued a summons for the Chairman of Uruan Local Government Area, Iniubong Ekpenyong, to appear before it.
Justice Nkanag took over the case from Justice Bennet Illaumo, who has since been transferred from the court.
The Next Edition had in a series of investigations revealed how Miss Umoren was assaulted, raped and murdered by Uduak Akpan.
The newspaper had also exposed how the Nigeria Police mishandled the investigation into the murder case.
But during a resumed hearing on the matter on Tuesday, prosecution counsel and Solicitor General of Akwa Ibom State, Christopher Udoh, amended the suit and added Miss Akpan as an accomplice to the murder.
The third accused, Miss Akpan is the sister to the self-confessed murderer Uduak, and is being charged among other things, for making it difficult for his brother to be arrested.
Mr. Frank Akpan, the father of the two children had earlier been named as the second accused person in the suit.
With the naming of Miss Akpan as the third accused, the state counsel formally sought leave of the court to amend the information earlier filed.
Justice Nkanang granted the application and called for a fresh arraignment in order for the three accused persons to take their pleadings.
He, however, fixed Thursday, November 4, for the fresh plea as well as the commencement of pretrial hearing.
Addressing journalists shortly after the adjournment of the court, the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Uwemedimo Nwoko, said the case may be concluded before Christmas.
Mr. Nwoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was appointed by the socio-cultural group, Ati Annang to hold a watching brief for both the claimants and the ethnic group of the deceased.
He hinted that the court would give an accelerated hearing to the case since there are not many witnesses to be examined in the course of the trial.
“I want to commend the trial judge for sustaining the earlier dates of appearances fixed by the former trial judge and his willingness to commence in-house trial immediately after the expected fresh arraignment on Thursday,” said Mr. Nwoko.
