Enugu Court Remands Siblings for Alleged Murder of Make-up Artiste

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

An Enugu State High Court presided by Justice I. K. Okpe yesterday remanded two siblings allegedly involved in the murder of a makeup artist, Ijeoma Nneke, 27, in Enugu Correctional Centre. The two siblings are alleged to have conspired to kill Nneke in November 2020 in Enugu. They were said to have compelled her to drink a poisonous substance, and thereafter, allegedly poured corrosive chemicals all over her body.

The offence is contrary to Sections 494 and 274 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol.11, Laws of Enugu State 2004. In a suit number: E/67C/2021 between the state vs Chiamaka Ifezue and Chukwuemeka Ifezue, Okpe adjourned the matter till August 25, 2021, following applications for the amendments of the charges.

The prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Ngozi Ikem-Okoye, informed the court about an oral motion as well as a pending application for the amendment of the charges when the matter was called up. Ikem-Okoye said the oral motion to amend the charge was brought pursuant to Section 313 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

She said the prosecution also had an application that sought the leave of the court to call additional witnesses in the matter, noting that the application was brought pursuant to Section 283 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

While responding, the defence counsel, Mr. C. U. Okafor, said he would not oppose the oral motion to correct the typographical errors on the charges, however, he said the application that sought the leave of the court to call more witnesses was unnecessary as the accused had yet to take pleas.

The defence counsel said the case was not yet before the court, adding that the prosecution did not seem to be ready to prosecute the case.

However, Justice Okpe adjourned the case to August 25 for ruling on the application to call additional witnesses and for the accused to take a plea. Meanwhile, some relatives of the late makeup artist were seen protesting with placards at the court and demanding justice for the murder of their sister.