By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

The family of late Ms. Iniubong Umoren, alongside the Director of Public Prosecution, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice, and the defense counsel in her murder case, have debunked online allegations that her organs were harvested.

During a press briefing, they described the claims linking Senate President Godswill Akpabio to organ harvesting as false and misleading.

Speaking at the event, Iniubong’s sister, Ifiok Umoren, expressed dismay over the allegations, insisting that her sister’s organs remained intact from the time of the autopsy to her burial. She recounted how Iniubong had called her before going for a job interview and how she searched for her when she didn’t return.

“Ifiok stated, ‘Before burial, the police took the corpse to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) for autopsy. Two policemen and I witnessed the autopsy, and all her organs were intact. On May 18, 2021, she was buried.’

She questioned how anyone could claim her sister’s organs were harvested, adding that such allegations were baseless.

Prosecuting counsel Mr. Friday Itim recalled that UduakAbasi Akpan murdered Iniubong by hitting her with a stabilizer after she refused to have unprotected sex. Akpan buried her in a shallow grave and fled to Calabar but was later arrested.

Itim emphasized that the prosecution called ten witnesses, leading to Akpan’s conviction and death sentence, dismissing claims of Akpabio’s involvement as outrageous. He urged authorities to prosecute Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for spreading false information.

Samson Adula, Akpan’s defense counsel, also dismissed the organ harvesting allegations as baseless, stating there was no mention of it during court proceedings.

Recall that Iniubong Umoren, a 26-year-old graduate of Philosophy from the University of Uyo, was lured and murdered by UduakAbasi Akpan on April 29, 2021, under the pretense of a job offer. Akpan was later convicted of rape and murder and sentenced to death by hanging on August 4, 2022.