Justice K.I Okpe of court 6, Enugu State High Court, on Wednesday, admitted the evidences tendered by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) with respect to the murder of Ijeoma Nneke, Enugu Make-Up artist that was murdered on 11th November, 2020.
Two Siblings, Ifezue Chiamaka and her brother, Ifezue Emeka from Urualla, Ideato North local government in Imo State are standing trial as suspects in the alleged murder of Ijeoma Nneke, a 27-year-old Make-up artist based in Enugu on 11th November, 2020.
At the resumption of the trial today, Barrister Chigbo C.C from DPP moved a motion for additional witness which was vehemently opposed by the defence counsel; Barrister Chuma Oguejiofor who argued that the motion by the prosecutor is a calculated attempt to alter today’s proceeding adding that the motion has no value.
However, Justice Okpe after getting the consent of the defence counsel allowed for the motion to bring in a new witness.
The witness, sergeant Ogugua Udeze who was the Investigating Police Officer, IPO incharge of the matter when it was reported to the police but currently with ‘A’ department at the Enugu Command Headquarters told the court about the evidences gathered during the cause of the investigation.
The items tendered before the court were: A key of Toyote Matrix which one of the witnesses said was used by the suspects to move the body of the victim away from their compound, 5Pcs of 20 British Pounds, iPhone 7 with MTN SIM card, iPhone, Blackberry phone, 9 mobile SIM card, Black unnamed phone, MTN SIM Pack and the make up tools which allegedly belongs to the victim.
The above evidence were admitted by the court as evidence K1 to K10.
Also tendered as evidence by the prosecutor are WhatsApp messages between the victim and her boyfriend where she was was explaining to him the location she was directed for a make up job and the description matches the house of the suspects and SMS messages between the late Ijeoma and her friend, Prisca where she (the victim) was telling her friend that she’s no longer comfortable where she was.
After arguments by the defence counsel that the authentication of the printed messages was faulty, the judge admitted all the evidence including the call log of the deceased which was printed from her network provider.
The call log showed that there was a contact between the deceased and one of the suspects; Chiamka Ifezue.
After admitting the evidences, the matter was adjourned to March 22nd, 24th and 29th for the continuation of the trial.
