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The concerned family members and friends are bitter over the court’s judgement in relation to the murder of their son.
They lamented that maximum punishments were not meted on the offenders as only two and 10 years’ confinements were given to persons established by the court to have been involved in murder and accessory to murder.
The wife of the deceased, Barr Abasiesebanga Ikoiwak, who was the 1st Defendant, alongside her aged mother, Mrs Margaret Patrick Umoh, (2nd Defendant) sister, Owoidoho Patrick Umoh (3rd Defendant) and staff members of St Luke’s Hospital Anua (4th, 5th, 6th Defendants) stood trial on a five-count charge bothering on: conspiracy to murder, murder, accessory after the fact of murder, conspiracy to commit unlawful purpose and issuance of false certificate by Public Officer.
Justice Bassey Nkanang on extended jurisdiction from Mkpat Enin gave the judgement in suit number: Hu/50/2022 State vs (1) Abasieseabanga Godwin Ikoiwak (2) Margaret Patrick Umoh (3) Owoidoho Patrick Umoh (4) Dr Imoh Johnson (5) Dr Isaac Njoku, Rev Father Gabriel Ekong.
Two other defendants, Udeme Patrick Umoh and Isaiah Gideon Isaiah are still at large.
The 1,2,3 defendants were charged with (Count 1) conspiracy to murder – punishable under Section 331 of the Criminal Code, laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000. (Count – 2); murder- punishable under Section 326(1) of the Criminal Code, cap 38, volume 2, laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000. (Count 3); accessory after the fact of murder- punishable under section 558 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, volume 2, laws of Akwa Ibom State. 2000.
The 4, 5, 6 defendants (Dr Imo Johnson, Rev Father Gabriel Ekong and Dr Isaac Njoku), all staffers of St Luke’s hospital, were charged with two count of conspiracy to commit unlawful purpose in count 4, punishable under Section 556(1)(f) of the Criminal Code cap 38, volume 2 laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000; (Count 5) Issuance of false certificate by Public Officer punishable under Section 109 of the Criminal Code, cap 38 volume 2, laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000.
A total of 14 witnesses were called: the Prosecution called 8 witnesses while the Defence team called 6 witnesses. 51 Exhibits were tendered, identified and admitted.
Reviewing the history of the case, evidence of witnesses, exhibits, submissions of the Prosecution and Defence in a detailed judgement, Justice Nkanang convicted 5 of the 6 defendants, while the 6th defendant – Dr Isaac Njoku was discharged and acquitted.
He read that autopsy showing that the deceased died of poisoning from ingested Organophosphate (Ota piapia in local parlance) in the house of his mother in-law (2nd Defendant) where he went on a visit. The corpse was also reported to have unexplained physical injuries on the left eye socket, neck and ankle.
He also read that from the data snalysis, the first defendant, (wife of the deceased) though was not at the scene of the incident but far away in Calabar in constant communication with the 2nd and 3rd defendants.
From the data also, one Revd. Father Maurice Mbeke was said to have called Rev Father Gabriel Ekong, the Administrator of St Luke’s hospital to ask the possibility of issuing a death certificate of someone who died outside the hospital and the latter answered in affirmative.
Thereafter, he urged the administrator to assist the 1st defendant in that regard to receive the corpse of her husband.
‘Rev. Father Ekong then instructed Dr Imoh Johnson to open a file, issue a medical report and death certificate, which falsely claimed that the deceased was admitted and treated for asthma before he died at the hospital.’
However, Justice Nkanang in his over three hours judgement convicted the 1st Defendant, Abasieseabanga Godwin Ikoiwak for accessory after the fact of murder and sentenced her to 2 years in confinement starting from 2022.
The second defendant, the aged mother-in-law, Margaret Patrick Umoh was sentenced to 10 years in imprisonment for the charge of murder.
While the sister in-law, Owoidoho Patrick Umoh was sentenced to 10 years in confinement starting from 21st May 2022.
Dr Imoh Johnson was sentenced 2 years in prison from 25, June 2025, while Rev Father Gabriel Ekong was given 4 years in prison from June 25, 2025. The terms run concurrently.
”In terms of count two, the 2nd and 3rd defendants are to remain in confinement for the period of 10 years in lieu of death sentence.
“In terms of count four the 1st, 4th, and 6th defendants are sentenced to two years in confinement. The 5th defendant is discharged and acquitted. The period of confinement of the convicted defendants will run concurrently and starting from the time of arrest. For 1st defendant, 18th day of March 2022. For second defendant Margaret Umoh starting from May 1, 2022, for Owoidoho Umo May 1, 2022. For the 4th defendant Dr Imoh Johnson, Rev Father Gabriel Ekong begin 25th of June, 2025, this is the judgement of the court,” he ruled.
Meanwhile, Barr Joseph Umoren, who led other counsel for the state, has served notice of intention to appeal the judgment on Barr Ekpenyong Ntekim, who led the defence of first to third Defendants.
Effiong Abia Esq and Glory Kofi represented the fourth and fifth Defendants, respectively.
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