‘No organ was missing’ — family of slain Iniubong Umoren denies allegation against Akpabio

Ifiok Umoren, the elder sister of the late Iniubong Umoren, has refuted claims that the deceased organs were harvested following her murder in April 2021.

Ifiok spoke on Saturday at a press conference held in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom, in response to recent claims by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended senator representing Kogi central, that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was involved in harvesting Iniubong’s organ to save his wife.

Sandra Duru, a United Kingdom (UK)-based activist, popularly known as Professor Mgbeke, had alleged that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan offered her N200 million to falsely accuse Akpabio of organ harvesting.

The activist made the claim during a live Facebook session and said there are recordings where the suspended senator admitted having no evidence against the senate president.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has since denied the allegation, dismissing the live stream content as “untrue and manipulated”.

INIUBONG’S DEATH

In 2021, 26-year-old Iniubong, a female job seeker, went missing after meeting a Twitter user for a job opportunity in Akwa Ibom.

Uduak Umoh, a friend of Iniubong, announced her death after raising concerns about her disappearance.

Subsequently, the police operatives in Akwa Ibom arrested Uduak Akpan, a suspect, who allegedly confessed to sexually and physically assaulting the late Iniubong and burying her body in a shallow grave at his father’s house.

Akpan was convicted of rape and murder and sentenced to death by the Akwa Ibom high court on August 4, 2022.

‘UMOREN NOT A VICTIM OF ORGAN HARVESTING’

Speaking at the press conference, the deceased’s sister said no body part was missing from autopsy to burial.

Flanked by Friday Johnson Itim, Akwa Ibom’s director of public prosecution, and Samuel Abdullah of the Legal Aid Council, Ifiok said the claim was a distortion of truth.

Ifiok described the allegation as “outrageous” and “deeply hurtful”, adding that she personally witnessed the autopsy, during which the internal organs were confirmed intact.

“How can someone claim that my sister’s organs were harvested when I was right there during the autopsy?” she asked.

“This accusation is not only false but also dishonours the memory of my sister and retraumatises our family.”

Ifiok recalled how Iniubong informed her of a job interview before she went missing and how she helped in tracing the suspect and alerting security agencies.

“After her death, the police took the body for autopsy at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital,” she said.

“I was present. No organ was missing.”

Backing her position, Itim said the crime was committed solely by Akpan, who attacked Iniubong after she refused unprotected sex.

“He killed her in anger, buried her in a shallow grave and fled,” he said.

“His arrest was made possible through help from his family and the local council chairman.”

Also, Abdullah said the allegation of organ trafficking did not come up at any point during court proceedings.

“Neither the prosecution nor defence ever mentioned Senator Akpabio,” he said.

“The autopsy report is available to the public and shows that all organs were intact.”

He added that the claim lacked legal and evidential support.

Emeka Nwafor, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy, testified under oath in 2021 that though the corpse showed signs of trauma and decomposition, there was no indication of organ removal.

Family members and legal representatives are now weighing options to seek redress against Akpoti-Uduaghan over what they called a “defamatory and destabilising” claim.