Justice Served: Two Men to Die by Hanging for Rape, Murder of Anambra Teenager

Justice U.I. Ndigwe of the Anambra State High Court, Ogidi Division, has handed down a capital punishment verdict against Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu, convicting them on three counts of conspiracy, rape, and murder in the brutal death of 17-year-old Jennifer Anene. In a judgment delivered on Friday in Suit No. HID/23C/2021, the presiding judge ruled that the prosecution had established the guilt of both defendants beyond every reasonable doubt. The court described the convicts’ actions as a violation that “desecrated societal values” and demanded full accountability under the law.

The tragic incident began on November 25, 2020, when Jennifer Anene, a 17-year-old girl described by the prosecution as being mentally impaired, was reported missing by her grandfather, Elder Pius Anene. Her disappearance triggered a desperate search by family members, which ultimately uncovered a horrifying crime. According to the prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel Florence Abadom-Igweike, the family’s worst fears were confirmed three days later when a crucial eyewitness came forward — the wife of the first defendant.

The prosecution told the court that the first defendant’s wife revealed she had personally witnessed her husband, Elochukwu Belonwu, along with other men, sexually assaulting the teenage girl while she screamed for help. This testimony became a central piece of the state’s case. However, when confronted by the victim’s family, Belonwu denied the allegations and attempted to deflect blame, claiming he had last seen the deceased in the company of the second defendant, Chukwuebuka Ofokwu.

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The prosecution further narrated that a mutual friend of the defendants, identified only as Akpuchukwu, later brought the unconscious teenager back to her home and immediately fled the scene. Despite intensive efforts, Akpuchukwu remains at large, and his whereabouts are still unknown to authorities. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital on the instruction of the police, but medical personnel confirmed she was dead on arrival.

A postmortem examination conducted on the deceased revealed devastating injuries consistent with aggravated sexual assault, including multiple bruises and vaginal tears. These findings were tendered in court alongside the police investigation report and photographic evidence from the crime scene. The prosecution called two key witnesses: the victim’s grandfather and the investigating police officer. Both gave compelling testimony that helped establish the sequence of events. In a notable twist, the eyewitness — the first defendant’s wife — declined to testify in court despite being properly served with a court summons. Nevertheless, the prosecution argued that the remaining evidence was sufficient to secure a conviction.

The two defendants testified in their own defense, maintaining their innocence and denying all allegations of rape and murder. However, Justice Ndigwe was not persuaded by their claims. Delivering the final judgment, the judge held that the prosecution proved all three counts — conspiracy, rape, and murder — beyond a reasonable doubt. The court sentenced both men to death by hanging on all counts, sending a strong message against sexual violence and homicide in the state.

This ruling is one of several recent high-profile sexual assault cases in Anambra State, underscoring the judiciary’s growing resolve to impose severe penalties on perpetrators of gender-based violence. Legal observers have praised the judgment as a step toward justice for vulnerable victims, particularly those with mental impairments who are often at greater risk of exploitation. As of this report, the third suspect, Akpuchukwu, is still being sought by law enforcement agencies, and authorities have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.

Justice Served: Two Men to Die by Hanging for Rape, Murder of Anambra Teenager

Man Uses Hot Pressing Iron on Daughter’s Private Part for Bedwetting

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested one Amos Paul, a resident of Unaun, Upenme in Owo Local Government Area, for allegedly inflicting grievous bodily harm on his 10-year-old daughter. The suspect was arrested on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following a report filed with the police regarding the incident. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that the suspect allegedly used a hot pressing iron to burn the private part of his daughter as punishment for bed-wetting. The victim sustained severe injuries and was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, where she is currently receiving medical treatment. Jimoh stated that upon receipt of the information, detectives from ‘A’ Division, Owo swiftly mobilised to the scene, arrested the suspect without delay, and took him into custody. The case has been transferred to the Gender Unit for discreet investigation and further necessary action in line with established procedures.

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the alleged act in the strongest terms, describing it as “cruel, inhumane and completely unacceptable”. He reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable members of society from all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation. The Commissioner urged members of the public to promptly report cases of child abuse, domestic violence and other related offences to the nearest police station, assuring that the command will continue to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

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The Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ondo State was reportedly taking over the matter on behalf of the state government. This underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the rising cases of child abuse in the state. Nigeria’s Child Rights Act of 2003 prohibits corporal punishment and protects children from all forms of violence and degrading treatment. However, conflicting constitutional provisions and the partial adoption of the Child Rights Act by states applying Islamic law have impeded its full implementation. Under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, a parent who inflicts bodily harm on a child can be prosecuted, with conviction attracting up to 3 years imprisonment, a fine, or both. The Criminal Code also counts grievous bodily harm as an offence, irrespective of the offender’s relationship to the victim. Despite these legal protections, enforcement remains weak due to poor institutional capacity, limited awareness, and cultural acceptance of corporal punishment. The Nigerian government has pledged to end corporal punishment in schools as part of new global commitments to tackle violence against children.

Man Uses Hot Pressing Iron on Daughter’s Private Part for Bedwetting

I Spent N2.2m for Habila’s Strange Illness, Says Umahi

• Minister of Works breaks silence on nurse’s death, describes her as “like a daughter,” insists on autopsy to determine cause

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding the death of Mary Habila, the nurse who died at his official residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, on June 27, 2026. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi revealed that he personally spent over ₦2.2 million on her medical treatment and described the deceased as “like a daughter” to him. Umahi dismissed allegations linking him to the incident, describing attempts to politicise the young woman’s death as unfair and misleading. He maintained that he suspects no foul play in the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to the minister, Habila had lived with his family for about three years and worked as a nurse attached to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State. He clarified that she was a nurse, contrary to reports that described her as a physiotherapist. “The lady in question was like a daughter to me. She had stayed with me for three years. She was a staff member of the Federal Medical University. She was a nurse and not a physiotherapist. And her family and my family are like one family,” Umahi said. The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) later confirmed that Habila did not appear on the database of registered physiotherapists in Nigeria, supporting Umahi’s clarification that she was a nurse.

Umahi disclosed that Habila had been battling health challenges and was receiving treatment at a Turkish Hospital in Abuja, with all her medical expenses paid by him. He said her last hospital visit was on April 5, 2026, during which he personally paid about ₦2.2 million for her treatment. “She has her medical records in Turkish Hospital, being paid by us. The last one was on the 5th of April, and it cost me N2.2 million. The records are there. I paid N2.2 million,” he stated.

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Providing details of the events leading to her death, Umahi said Habila had spoken with her boyfriend shortly before she died and complained of bleeding from her nose. “She spoke to her boyfriend at the hour of her death, complaining that she was bleeding from the nose. The boyfriend said, ‘No, you have to report it.’ She said it had stopped. The boyfriend then said, ‘Listen, I will not continue this conversation since you are bleeding. It will increase the bleeding,'” Umahi recounted. According to the minister, the boyfriend cut the call and called back about three minutes later, but she did not answer. The following morning, after repeated attempts to reach her failed, colleagues forced open her room and found her dead, with the bathroom tap still running. Umahi also recalled that during an earlier official trip to Lagos, Habila had suffered another episode of nosebleeding and informed her boyfriend, who advised her to seek immediate medical attention. She reportedly declined to report it to him because she did not want to cause him stress.

The minister stressed that the guest house where Habila died was separate from his personal residence and questioned why he should be held responsible simply because the facility belonged to the Ministry of Works. “The guest house where she stayed is nowhere near where I live. Does it mean that if someone dies in the Ministry of Works, the minister must automatically be held responsible?” he asked. The minister also defended another medical staff member mentioned in reports, explaining that he had worked with her since his days as governor before securing federal employment.

Umahi disclosed that investigators had been unable to conduct an autopsy because the deceased’s family had objected on cultural grounds. He, however, insisted that determining the exact cause of death through a post-mortem examination was essential. “We have been begging the parents to allow an autopsy to happen. They said it is against their culture. But we insisted through our lawyer that an autopsy should happen. I have directed that the corpse cannot be removed until an autopsy,” he stated. The Ebonyi State Police Command has similarly insisted on an autopsy, describing it as necessary given the sensitive nature of the case and the imperative of establishing the true cause of death.

Habila’s father, Tanko Habila, has formally rejected the autopsy request in an affidavit filed before the High Court of Justice, Ebonyi State. The family said it does not suspect foul play and wants the body released for burial without further medical procedures. “We don’t keep the body of a young child for this long. All I want is the corpse of my daughter so that we can bury her,” Tanko Habila said. The family’s lawyer, Kaile Yusuf, said the family had fulfilled all police requirements for the release of Habila’s remains but had yet to receive the body nearly three weeks after her death.

Umahi said he had requested the Inspector-General of Police to transfer the investigation to Abuja to ensure a thorough inquiry and facilitate discussions with the deceased’s family. He also urged investigators to obtain and analyse the call records of the deceased and her boyfriend. The minister described the loss as deeply painful, saying Habila was one of his most dedicated staff members and would be difficult to replace. He urged Nigerians to refrain from spreading misinformation and allow the police investigation to run its course.

I Spent N2.2m for Habila’s Strange Illness, Says Umahi