The Enugu State High Court has handed down a death sentence to Chiamaka Ifezue for the brutal murder of makeup artist Ijeoma Nneke on November 11th, 2020.
After an arduous legal battle spanning over three years, Barr. Chinelo Chigbo, leading the prosecution from the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, successfully convinced the court of Ifezue's culpability in the tragic demise of the 27-year-old makeup artist based in Enugu.
In a verdict delivered today, February 7th, 2024, Justice K.I Okpe rendered Ifezue guilty and imposed the ultimate penalty of death by hanging. This verdict marks a significant closure for the victim's family and underscores the judicial commitment to upholding justice in Enugu State.
Recall that on February 4, 2021, wo Siblings Arraigned For Murder Of Make-Up Artist In Enugu, the two siblings identified as Ifezue Chiamaka and Ifezue Emeka were, on Wednesday, 3rd February, 2021, arraigned at Enugu State Magistrate Court for the murder of a make-up artist, Ijeoma Nweke a crime was committed in 2020.
According to reports, Chiamaka conspired with her brother to kill Ijeoma for allegedly ‘having an affair with her boyfriend’.
It was revealed that Chiamaka lured Ijeoma by inviting her for a make- up job. On getting there and suspecting foul play, Ijeoma quickly sent an SOS message to a friend, before being forced to drink a poisoned substance.
The two siblings were allegedly poured substance suspected to be acid on Ijeoma.
An eye witness (name withdrawn) who was also present in the court revealed that he witnessed as Emeka Ifezue poured acid on the body of Ijeoma. After, they dumped her body at Maryland axis of Enugu Metropolis.
Also present in court was the boyfriend (who wanted his name silenced for security purpose) was willing to testify against the two siblings.
The Independence Layout Police Division, Enugu, said exhibits were recovered at the scene of the alleged crime.
The exhibits included five pieces of 20 British pounds, an iPhone 7plus with MTN SIM card, another iPhone device and a blackberry phone.
Others are a broken 9Mobile SIM card, itel phone, another black phone (no brand name), MTN SIM pack, makeup tools belonging to the deceased.
Also tendered in evidence was the key of a Toyota Metrix Scan with registration number JJJ410BJ which was allegedly used to move the dead body of the deceased from the scene of the crime to where it was dumped.
The police officer said that the car which had been parked at the Police Anti-kidnap Formation was no longer in good condition to be moved to the court.
He also tendered hard copies of the WhatsApp messages and text messages (SMS) the deceased had with her fiancé and girlfriend respectively while at the scene of the crime.
Oguguo also tendered the non-confessional statements of Chiamaka made on November 18, 2020, November 19, 2020, and January 14, 2021, which were all admitted in evidence.
He also tendered the non-confessional statement of Chukwuemeka made on November 18, 2020.
