By John Ogunsemore
The family of late Miss Iniubong Umoren has debunked online allegations that her organs were harvested.
Iniubong, a 26-year-old job seeker, was killed in Akwa Ibom on April 29, 2021, by one UduakAbasi Akpan, who lured her with the promise of helping her secure employment.
On August 4, 2022, Justice Bassey Nkanang of the Akwa Ibom State High Court sentenced Akpan to death by hanging for the murder.
Speaking at a press briefing in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, Iniubong’s family dissociated Senate President Godswill Akpabio from their daughter’s ordeal after allegations of organ harvesting were laid against him.
Iniubong’s sister, Ifiok Umoren stated that Iniubong’s organs were intact from the time of autopsy to burial, expressing dismay at claims that her organs were harvested.
“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,” Ifiok said.
She added, “How can someone tell me and indeed the world that my sister’s organs were harvested? Did the person who accused another harvest my sister’s organs after burial?”
Ifiok recounted how Iniubong had called her before going for a job interview and how she searched for her when she did not return.
“On May 1, 2021, the police called and asked me to send my sister’s pictures to them. On May 2, 2021, the police asked me to come to the morgue for the identification of my sister. On arrival, I saw her corpse and confirmed that she was the one.
“Before burial, the police took the corpse to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, for autopsy. Two policemen and I were in the room and witnessed the autopsy. All organs in her body were complete. On May 18, 2021, she was buried.
“Throughout the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the murderer, UduakAbasi never mentioned Akpabio. How can a senator who was not a witness accuse Akpabio as the person who harvested the organs of my sister?
“I keep wondering how someone would wake up one day and start launching unsubstantiated allegations for whatever reasons best known to her against another and then tie it down to the death of my sister,” she said.
Also, Adula Samson, who defended UduakAbasi Akpan at trial, dismissed the allegation of organ harvesting.
“Throughout the prosecution and conviction, the prosecutor and defender never mentioned organ harvesting against Akpabio. The prosecution file is in the public domain for anybody to assess. We should not assume the issue,” the lawyer stated.
Samson added that a pathologist carried out an autopsy on the deceased and the certified true copy of the report was in the public domain.