An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has convicted and sentenced five individuals, including the wife of a late lawyer, her mother and sister, a medical doctor, and a Catholic priest, for their roles in the murder and attempted cover-up of Barrister Godwin Ikoiwak, a legal officer with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice.
Justice Bassey Nkanang delivered the ruling after a lengthy trial that followed the suspicious death of the lawyer in January 2022. The court found that Ikoiwak died after ingesting organophosphate poison, commonly known as “Ota piapia,” while visiting his mother-in-law’s residence in Nung Udoe Itak, near Uyo. An autopsy also revealed unexplained injuries on his body, including around the eye socket, neck, and wrist.
Those convicted include the deceased’s wife, Abasieseabanga Godwin Ikoiwak, who received a two-year prison sentence for her involvement in concealing the circumstances of her husband’s death. Her 67-year-old mother, Margaret Patrick Umoh, and 36-year-old sister, Owoidoho Patrick Umoh, were each sentenced to ten years imprisonment for their roles in the administration of the poison and subsequent cover-up.
Also convicted was Dr. Imoh Johnson, a physician at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, who was sentenced to two years for issuing a false medical report stating that the deceased was treated for asthma prior to his death. The hospital’s administrator, Rev. Father Gabriel Ekong, was sentenced to four years for instructing the issuance of the falsified documents and participating in the attempt to disguise the true cause and place of death.
According to court testimony, the deceased was never taken to the hospital alive. Instead, his body was moved from the residence where he died to the hospital, and documents were prepared to suggest he died in medical care. The deception was reportedly orchestrated with the assistance of another priest, Rev. Father Mbeke, who was not charged in the case.
Justice Nkanang stated that the actions of the defendants showed clear intent to obstruct justice and mislead both the authorities and the deceased’s family. However, he considered mitigating factors including the age and health of the defendants, as well as the fact that none had prior criminal records.
A sixth defendant, Dr. Isaac Njoku, was acquitted and released, having been found not guilty due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
Following the judgment, counsel for Dr. Johnson indicated plans to file an appeal. Members of the victim’s family have expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, pointing to longstanding marital tensions, including paternity disputes, as possible motives for the crime.
