Iniubong Umoren’s Family Dismisses Organ Harvesting Allegation Against Akpabio: “We Saw the Autopsy – Nothing Was Missing”

The family of Iniubong Umoren, a young woman brutally murdered in 2021, has strongly denied recent claims that her organs were harvested following her death. At a press conference in Uyo on Saturday, Ifiok Umoren, Iniubong’s elder sister, called the allegations “outrageous” and “deeply hurtful,” emphasizing that no organ was missing from her sister’s body from the time of autopsy to burial.

The allegations surfaced after suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was involved in organ harvesting to save his wife. These claims were amplified in a live Facebook session by UK-based activist Sandra Duru, known as Professor Mgbeke, who alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan offered her N200 million to falsely accuse Akpabio. Akpoti-Uduaghan has denied the allegations, describing the broadcast as untrue and manipulated.

Addressing the controversy, Ifiok Umoren recounted that she was present during the autopsy at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and personally witnessed that Iniubong’s organs were intact. Flanked by Akwa Ibom’s Director of Public Prosecution, Friday Johnson Itim, and Samuel Abdullah of the Legal Aid Council, she stated that the accusation dishonors Iniubong’s memory and retraumatizes their grieving family.

The tragic death of Iniubong Umoren, a 26-year-old job seeker, shocked the nation in April 2021 after she went missing following a job interview arranged on Twitter. Her body was later found buried in a shallow grave. Uduak Akpan, who lured her under false pretenses, was arrested and confessed to sexually and physically assaulting her before killing her. He was convicted and sentenced to death on August 4, 2022.

Speaking at the press briefing, Itim reiterated that the crime was solely committed by Akpan after Iniubong refused unprotected sex. He said Akpan fled after the murder and was eventually apprehended with help from his family and local authorities. Abdullah added that the issue of organ trafficking never arose during the court proceedings, nor was Senator Akpabio mentioned at any point. The autopsy report, which is publicly available, confirms that all of Iniubong’s organs were intact.

Pathologist Emeka Nwafor, who conducted the autopsy, had earlier testified in court that while the body showed signs of trauma and decomposition, there was no indication of organ removal. The family, along with their legal representatives, is now considering legal action against Akpoti-Uduaghan over what they describe as defamatory and destabilizing claims.