Enugu State High Court Sentences Chiamaka Ifezue to Death for Murder of Makeup Artist Ijeoma Nneke

The Enugu State High Court has handed down a death sentence by hanging to Chiamaka Ifezue for the murder of 27-year-old makeup artist Ijeoma Nneke on November 11, 2020. The court found Ifezue guilty of the heinous crime after she and her sibling, Chukwuemeka Ifezue, were arraigned on two counts of conspiracy and murder.

Justice K.I Okpe, presiding over the case, concurred with the prosecution led by Mrs. Chinelo Chigbo from the Department of Public Prosecution, affirming Ifezue’s responsibility for the tragic death of the Enugu-based makeup artist.

While Chiamaka Ifezue received the death penalty, her sibling, Chukwuemeka Ifezue, was discharged on July 28, 2022, as the court found no evidence implicating him in the commission of the crime.

The siblings were accused of coercing the victim, Ijeoma Nneke, into consuming a poisonous substance, leading to her demise. Following her death, the suspects allegedly disposed of her body in the Maryland axis of Enugu metropolis, supplementing the gruesome act by applying a corrosive substance, suspected to be acid, to the carcass.

During the trial, the court admitted police exhibits related to the alleged murder. Prosecution Witness 7 (PW7), Sgt. Udeze Oguguo, a police officer from the Independence Layout Police Division, presented evidence recovered at the crime scene. This included currency, mobile devices, makeup tools belonging to the deceased, and the key to a Toyota Matrix Scan allegedly used to transport the victim’s body.

The court also received hard copies of WhatsApp and text messages exchanged by the deceased with her fiancé and girlfriend at the crime scene. This evidence played a crucial role in establishing the events leading up to the tragic incident.

This sentencing marks a significant step in delivering justice for the late Ijeoma Nneke and underscores the court’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.