Her name, Nneoma, means good mother while her father’s name is Onwukwe, which when translated means ‘If death permits.’ But she is presently dressed in the gar­ment of a bad daughter and death may not permit her to realise her dreams and aspira­tions, as she could keep a date with the hangman.

On Wednesday, March 10, 2015, Nneoma painted a pathetic picture as she struggled to climb into the Nige­ria Prisons vehicle that was taking her back to Abakaliki Prisons which has been her home since last year. Com­ing out of the awaiting trial cell, to see the world as it were, was a luxury for her and other awaiting trial inmates.

That day, she was at High Court Four, Abakaliki where she is standing trial for alleged murder. Dressed in a faded red T-shirt, black skirt, black head tie and bathroom slippers, she looked unkempt. She kept staring at nothing in particular. Obviously, her mind was in turmoil, her mien re­vealed as much or so it seemed.

Intermittently, the fair complex­ioned lady muttered under her breath and shook her head, perhaps in dis­belief or regret. A female warder was overheard telling her that she looked better this time than she did the last time she was in the temple of justice.

Twenty one-year old Nneoma Onwukwe and her boyfriend, Akpa­chukwu Alex (26) are standing trial for allegedly conspiring with oth­ers now at large to murder one Mr. Enoch Okorie on May 3, 2014 in a four-storey students’ hostel on God­dy Ogbaga Avenue in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.

Whereas the deceased was a busi­nessman, Nneoma and Alex were students of Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki. Incidentally, the trio hail from Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

The accused persons were origi­nally arraigned before a magistrate court on May 14, 2014 vide suit no: MAB/421c/2014 on a two-count charge. It reads: “That you, Akpa­chukwu Alex ‘m,’ Nneoma On­wukwe ‘f’ and others now at large on the 3rd day of May, 2014 at Las Vegas Hostel, Goddy Ogbaga Ave­nue, Abakaliki in Abakaliki Magis­terial Division did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code cap 33 vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

Count 11: “That you Akpachukwu Alex ‘m,’ Nneoma Onwukwe and others now at large on the same day and place and in the aforesaid Magis­terial District did unlawfully kill one Enoch Okorie ‘m’ and thereby com­mitted an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.”

The case was, however, trans­ferred to the Public Prosecution Department (DPP) and adjourned to June 16, 2014 while the accused persons were remanded in prison custody. Subsequently, the accused persons were charged with murder in the High Court vide Charge no: HAB/35C/2014.

But when the matter came up on last Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel was absent in court while the accused persons were represented by three lawyers. When the matter was called up for the continuation of hearing, the lead defence lawyer told the court that it was the third time the prosecutor was not showing up in court. The matter was, however, adjourned to March 25 and 31 for continuation of hearing.

Sunday Sun had reported in de­tails on January 11 this year the death of Okorie who was in his late 60s and father of four allegedly in the loins of his girlfriend, Nneoma

Okorie was allegedly lured to the nest of death near the Presco campus of the university by the lover girl who allegedly acted in concert with an­other boyfriend of hers. Investigation revealed that on the day he died, he received a call from Nneoma, ask­ing him to meet her in a four- storey hostel off Goddy Ogbaga Avenue in Abakaliki, the state capital. It was supposed to be a whistle-stop vis­it but on getting there, it was learnt, they began to do those things that lovers do and her school boyfriend appeared suddenly on the scene like a ghost. And the man died in the pro­cess.