The family of Miss Chinyere Awuda, 27, who was discovered dead inside a hotel swimming pool on July 16 has claimed that their daughter was the victim of a plot and purposeful murder.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chinyere was reported to have gone out clubbing on July 16 but was discovered dead the following morning in an abandoned swimming pool on the hotel grounds.
By way of their attorney, Eziafa Enwedo, the Awuda family complained to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra, that the hotel management did nothing to stop their daughter’s murderers from killing their daughter.
“Call for Thorough Investigation of Conspiracy, Murder with Intent to Commit Rituals; Accessory After the Fact to Murder Miss Chinyere Awuda, Attempt to Compound Felony by Coaxing the Deceased Family into Accepting Settlement Before Conclusion of Investigation,” was the headline of the petition.
The hotel management, Steven Junior (also known as Exclusive), Chinemere Hope Gabriel (also known as Bullion Van), and other people were the targets of the petition.
According to the report, the suspects beat the victim to death in a group attack while bouncers and hotel and nightclub security looked on.
The family claimed they were under pressure to wrap up the investigation but demanded that the circumstances behind their daughter’s death must be looked into, made public, and those responsible brought before the law.
“The deceased was alleged to have joined other girls to pick money in the club that was sprayed while music and dancing were in progress, the tradition in the club, and there was a rush during the process,” the statement read.
“The primary suspect started hitting the dead, who was not one of his invited guests, before calling the other members of his gang over to help him.
The manager of the club allegedly told the bouncers to stand down and not get involved while the altercation was going on inside the clubhouse, preventing the security from saving the deceased.
The victim was able to get out of their grasp within the club, but Gabriel allegedly gathered his crew and chased the victim to the corner of the abandoned swimming pool, where they ambushed and captured her.
“At some point, as they were maiming and dismembering the corpse, Gabriel, the main suspect, knocked her off with what appeared to be a metal, breaking her forehead and silencing her.
The power supply to the entire hotel was abruptly cut off, leaving the entire building in darkness, according to the report. “We further learned that the manager instructed that the power producing set be turned off,” it stated.
The petitioners demanded that the hotel administration disclose a thorough CCTV video of everything that took place, both inside the club where the beating began and outside where the murder actually took place.
The family reported that the footage in circulation was hazy and jerky, which raised more suspicions.
“We make reference to the actual CCTV video footage, which the police have already obtained and which depicts the murder and the subsequent dumping of the dead body into the abandoned swimming pool.
The statement read, “We were reliably informed by an insider that there has been movement to alter the prime suspect’s initial confessional remarks, among others.”
The family said that sealing the Hotel and reopening it to the public in less than 24 hours showed disrespect for the departed and indifference to the suffering of the bereaved.
For the sake of the public’s conscience, “we call on the Police to seal the crime scene, until the outcome of the inquiry, and also arrest, detain, and prosecute all other suspects, as indicated by the CCTV clip already in the police hands,” the statement stated.
The Cosmila Hotel, the scene of the murder, expressed regret for the tragic event but disclaimed any involvement.
The hotel maintained that the dead was not beaten to death and placed in the swimming pool as had been claimed by the family and several media sources in a statement signed by Mr. Stanley Akuneziri, the Awka Branch Manager.
It did, however, confirm that Gabriel hosted a party during which cash was thrown around and the dead was targeted for attack by the party’s organisers.
Contrary to rumours, Chinyere was never strangled or dragged to the pool. We cannot, under any circumstances, harm others or act in a way that is at odds with our aims and purposes.
The hotel expressed its condolences to the deceased’s family while pledging to always work in the public good and stating that it was willing to cooperate fully with any investigation.
Additionally, there was CCTV footage of the incident.
“We do not support any behaviour that would harm our clients or imperil the reputation we have worked so hard to establish over the years.
The hotel stated, “May her spirit rest in perfect peace,” and added, “An autopsy is being undertaken, and the results will be made public. Anyone fingered in her death must unquestionably face the full weight of the Law.”
DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, responded by telling NAN that the crime had been reported to the command and that four individuals had been detained in connection with it.
Ikenga stated that the incident was under investigation and that the dead would undergo an autopsy to ascertain the primary factor in her demise.
He reassured the parties and the public that the Police would conduct a thorough investigation while pleading for calm.
