Court Acquits, Discharges, Suspect Accused Of Murdering Make-up Artist

The Enugu State High Court has acquitted one of the siblings accused of murdering late Enugu-based makeup artist Ijeoma Nneke.

Chiamaka Ifezue and Chukwuemeka Ifezue, two siblings, are on trial for allegedly forcing the deceased (Nneke) to drink a poisonous substance that killed her.

The trial judge, Justice K.I. Okpe, dismissed Chukwuemeka because there was no evidence that he actually participated in the commission of the crime.

According to a court document obtained on Tuesday, Chukwuemeka Ifezue was acquitted of the crime on July 28, 2022, following a no-case submission filed by his counsel, Mr Chuma Oguejiofor.

The case could not be continued at the resumed trial on Tuesday because the defense counsel, Mr Chuma Oguejiofor, informed the court that he had filed an appeal against the case’s continued trial.

Mrs. C. C. Chigbo, the prosecution’s counsel, told the court that she had not been served with the notice of appeal.

As a result, Justice Okpe adjourned the case until November 30, 2022, so that the defense could present its case.

The court had admitted into evidence police exhibits in the case of the alleged murder of the makeup artist in the previous two sittings.

The suspects, who are siblings, allegedly dumped her body near Enugu’s Maryland axis and poured a corrosive substance on the corpse, which was later identified as acid.

Chigbo directed Prosecution Witness 7, a police officer, in evidence, Sgt. Udeze Oguguo, to tender the exhibits.

The exhibits were recovered at the scene of the alleged crime, according to Oguguo, who is assigned to the Independence Layout Police Division in Enugu.

Five 20-pound notes, an iPhone 7plus with an MTN SIM card, another iPhone device, and a blackberry phone were among the exhibits.

Other items include a broken 9Mobile SIM card, an itel phone, another black phone (no brand name), an MTN SIM pack, and the deceased’s makeup tools.

The key to a Toyota Matrix car with the registration number JJJ 410 BJ, which was allegedly used to transport the deceased’s body from the scene of the crime to where it was dumped, was also presented in evidence.

The car, which had been parked at the Police Anti-Kidnap Formation, was no longer in good enough condition to be moved to the court, according to the officer.

He also provided hard copies of the deceased’s WhatsApp messages and text messages (SMS) with her fiancé and girlfriend while at the scene of the crime.

Oguguo also presented non-confessional statements made by Chiamaka on November 18, 2020, November 19, 2020, and January 14, 2021, which were all admitted into evidence.

He also presented Chukwuemeka’s non-confessional statement from November 18, 2020.

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