Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio says he will take legal action against an investigative journalist, David Hundeyin for publishing “false and defamatory statements” against him.
The former senator, through a letter by his legal representatives gave the journalist 14 days to retract the publication against him and his wife, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, or face the law.
The investigative reporter on Wednesday made series of tweets and other online publications suggesting Akpabio and his wife played a part in the rape and eventual death of the 26-year-old Iniuobong Umoren.
Her death has since angered Nigerians on Twitter leading to the #justiceforhinyumoren, but Odiko Macdon, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state in a statement said the police had arrested 20-year-old Akpan, a principal suspect in the death of Iniubong.
Hundeyin further said Davok hotel located at 58, G Unit also recognised as plot S9,Unit G, Ewet Housing, Estate, Uyo which was used by the suspect(s) for their nefarious activities is owned by Akpabio’s wife.
Publishing the letter he was served by Star Attorneys on behalf of Akpabio on his Twitter page, Hundeyin wondered why the letter was addressed to him through Business Day, daring the Minister to go ahead and sue him.
Read Also: Photos, Video From Funeral Of Iniubong Umoren, Job Seeker Who Was Raped, Killed In Akwa Ibom
In the letter, Akpabio quoted Hundeyin as saying he defamed his wife as the owner of Davok Suites where the suspected serial killer, Frank Uduak, murdered Akwa Ibom job seeker, Ini Umoren, late last month.
The letter partly reads;
In one of your Tweets via Twitter handle @DavidHundeyin of 11th May, 2021, you published the following statement to the entire world:
It has just come to my attention that Davok Suites, the hotel at the centre of the 58 Unit G/S 9, Unit G, Ewet Housing Estate nexus involving Kufre Effiong and Frank Uduak is owned by none other than Ekaette Akpabio, wife of Godswill Akpabio.
In the letter, the former Akwa Ibom State Governor wanted Hundeyin to retract saying that his wife is not the owner of the purported building.
The letter further stated;
Secondly, neither Davok Suites (which is a corporate entity) nor the land housing it belongs to Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio.
In the light of the above, our clients’ demands are thus:
An immediate retraction, by you, of all your publication and/or parts of them tending to show that our clients are/were complicit in the abduction, rape and gruesome murder of late Inibong Umoren.
Take notice that if you fail to comply with our clients’ above listed demands within 14 days of your receipt of this letter, we will not hesitate to take a lawsuit against you and all concerned.
Read Also: #FindHinyHumoren: Two Suspects Arrested – Akwa Ibom PoliceHowever, Hundeyin replied that he would welcome the lawsuit, saying;
Hi @senator_Akpabio, this has come to my attention. First of all, no idea why the lawyer you hired addressed it to BusinessDay as if I work there. Second, please feel free to sue. Thanks.
Hi @Senator_Akpabio, this has come to my attention.
First of all, no idea why the lawyer you hired addressed it to BusinessDay as if I work there🤷🏿♂️
Second, please feel free to sue.
Thanks. pic.twitter.com/DXIloY5q94
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) May 13, 2021
A day after he published a report through NewsWireNGR titled, ‘Murder in Uyo: Who Killed Hiny Umoren?’, Hundeyin featured on ARISE News where he claimed there’s a deliberate attempt to cover up for prominent personalities involved in the death of Iniubong.
According to Hundeyin, the Akwa Ibom State Police command is at the heart of this cover-up.
Read Also: Friend Of Slain Akwa Ibom Job Seeker Gives Emotional Account Of Murder Incident (Video)
Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner, Andrew Amiengheme however, told ARISE News it was most unfortunate that “meanings are being read” into the events that led to the murder of Iniubong who had set out to attend a job interview in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, but rather met her untimely death.
Hundeyin in the report claimed to have analysed telephone calls of the prime suspect in the murder case, Akpan. He also alleged that Akpan called some people after the murder of Iniubong.
According to Hundeyin, one of the people the prime suspect called was one Kufre Effiong, a staff in the Niger Delta Civil Service, alleging that Effiong and Akpan met physically at a certain 58G, Ewet Housing Estate in Uyo.
The reporter further raise salient questions as to whether Akpan, the principal suspect worked for an organ trafficking to feed the international donor organ black market.
This evidence shows without a shadow of doubt that Frank Akpan did not act alone.Organ trafficking to feed the international donor organ black market? Ritual killings on behalf of politicians involved in occultic practices.
He later tweeted via @DavidHundeyin alleging;
It has just come to my attention that Davok Suites, the hotel at the centre of the 58 Unit G/S.9, Unit G, Ewet Housing Estate nexus involving Kufre Effiong and Frank Uduak Akpan is owned by none other than Ekaette Akpabio, wife of Godswill Akpabio.
In other words, this place where Frank Uduak Akpan, fresh from murdering Ini Umoren came to meet Kufre Effiong, belongs to the wife of Kufre’s boss and Federal Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio. So which politician has Kufre been ‘running errands’ for?
In another tweet, he said “Kufre Effiong is not just a senior civil servant, but a well-known face at the Abuja federal secretariat”.
