Family and friends of late Barr Godwin Ikoiwak, a counsel with Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice, have condemned the court’s judgement that gave mild sentences to his killers.
A state high court sitting in Uyo convicted five of six defendants involved in the murder, including his wife, Barr Abasiesebanga Ikoiwak, who got just two years for being an accessory after the fact of murder. Her mother, Margaret Patrick Umoh, received 10 years for murder while his sister-in-law Owoidoho Patrick Umoh also bagged 10 years.
The wife’s sentence sparked anger as many said she orchestrated the murder yet escaped with a minimal jail term starting from 2022, meaning she may soon be free.
Justice Bassey Nkanang, in a three-hour judgement, stated that the lawyer died from poisoning with Organophosphate (popularly called Ota piapia) at his mother-in-law’s house. Autopsy reports showed physical injuries on his eye socket, neck, and ankle.
Although his wife was not present at the scene, data analysis confirmed constant communication with her mother and sister during the incident. The court also heard how Rev Father Gabriel Ekong and Dr Imoh Johnson of St Luke’s Hospital issued a fake death certificate claiming Ikoiwak died of asthma to cover up the murder.
While Rev Father Ekong got four years and Dr Johnson two years, another doctor, Isaac Njoku, was discharged and acquitted. Two other suspects remain at large.
Barr Sunny Anyanwu, a close friend of the deceased, described the judgement as a miscarriage of justice, urging the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Justice to appeal.
He said, “Someone who coordinated the whole thing got just two years starting from 2022. That’s freedom already. The family deserves justice.”
Meanwhile, lawyers for the state and some defendants have filed notices of appeal to challenge aspects of the judgement.
Ikoiwak was murdered after confronting his wife over paternity issues concerning their children. The wife initially claimed he died of an asthma attack, but an autopsy later revealed he was poisoned after a violent attack during his visit to his in-laws.
