Odudu Albert Ukpanah at 31 in 2014.

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A pregnant woman was left barely conscious and bleeding heavily after a brutal assault inside a Carlisle apartment building, Carlisle Police announced on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Odudu Albert Ukpanah, 42, was charged after officers found the woman with severe head wounds in a stairwell at the Seven Gables Apartments on Buchannon Drive at about 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, according to the release.

Violent Stairwell Attack

When officers arrived, they found the victim lying on the ground “profusely” bleeding, drifting in and out of consciousness, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Her head was surrounded by a pool of blood, and investigators noted blood splatter on the walls and stairs around her.

A delivery driver who witnessed the attack told police he saw Ukpanah and the victim exit a car and begin walking up the stairwell. When they were halfway up, Ukpanah allegedly threw the woman down the steps and tried to strangle her, the affidavit states.

He then slammed her head into the concrete multiple times before fleeing.

While the delivery driver was on the phone with 911, Ukpanah reportedly returned and slammed her head into the concrete again before running up the stairwell.

Police followed a trail of blood up the stairs to an apartment, where they found Ukpanah wearing bloody clothing, according to court documents. The victim, who is three months pregnant, was taken to Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center. Her condition was unclear as of Wednesday.

Ukpanah was taken into custody at the scene. His preliminary arraignment was held before Magisterial District Judge Rogers, resulting in him being held at Cumberland County Prison without bail.

Odudu Albert Ukpanah at 42 in 2025

Odudu Albert Ukpanah at 42 in 2025

Carlisle PD

He is charged with Felony Attempted Homicide, Felony Aggravated Assault, Felony Aggravated Assault Of Unborn Child., and Felony Strangulation.

Background

According to Nigerian media reports and widely circulated social-media posts, Ukpanah was arrested and prosecuted in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, in 2014 after being accused of murdering his father, Albert Ukpanah, a local political figure. The case gained significant attention at the time due to allegations of political motivation.

After a lengthy legal battle, an Akwa Ibom High Court acquitted and discharged Ukpanah in 2016, affirming that he did not kill his father. Reporting from Nigeria described the prosecution as controversial and the outcome as a full legal exoneration. 

During his incarceration, a social media campaign #releaseOduduUkpanah trended across Sahara news outlets.