The High Court of Anambra State, sitting in the Ogidi Judicial Division, has convicted and sentenced two men, Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu, to death by hanging for conspiracy, rape and the murder of 17-year-old Jennifer Anene.
Justice U.I. Ndigwe delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding the two defendants guilty of a three-count charge in Suit No. HID/23C/2021.
Justice Ndigwe condemned the acts, describing them as a grave violation that required accountability and amounted to a desecration of societal values.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel at the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Florence Abadom-Igweike, told the court that Jennifer, who was said to have a mental impairment, was reported missing on November 25, 2020, by her grandfather, Elder Pius Anene.
Three days later, the wife of the first defendant visited Jennifer’s home and reported that she had seen her husband and others allegedly sexually assaulting the teenager while she screamed for help.
When Elder Anene confronted the first defendant, he denied the allegation and claimed he had last seen Jennifer with the second defendant.
Shortly afterwards, a mutual acquaintance identified as Akpuchukwu brought Jennifer home unconscious and fled. He remains at large.
Jennifer was taken to a hospital on police instruction but was pronounced dead on arrival. An autopsy revealed bruises, vaginal tears and other findings consistent with aggravated sexual assault.
The prosecution called two witnesses — Jennifer’s grandfather and the investigating police officer.
It also tendered the postmortem report, police investigation report and photographs as exhibits. The first defendant’s wife, who was identified as an eyewitness, declined to testify despite being served with a court summons.
The defendants testified in their own defence and denied the allegations.
After reviewing the evidence and submissions from both sides, Justice Ndigwe held that the prosecution had proved the offences of conspiracy, rape and murder beyond reasonable doubt.
In his ruling, Justice Ndigwe said the verdict “answers the cry for justice of a child whose blood demanded accountability, and of a society whose values were desecrated.”
He added that the verdict demonstrated the commitment and diligence of law officers at the Anambra State Ministry of Justice in ensuring that justice was served, regardless of how long the process took.
The judgment brings to an end a case that began after Jennifer’s death in 2020, with the court finding that the prosecution had established the charges against the two defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
