Anambra Family Rejects Autopsy Report, Insists Daughter Was Killed
The family of Chinyere Awuda, a lady found dead near an abandoned swimming pool at a hotel in Anambra State, on Friday rejected the autopsy report that said she died of drowning.
The family, speaking through their lawyer, Eziafa Enwedo, asked the police to release the CCTV footage, alleging that the footage showed a male adult chasing the deceased towards the pool area.
The family’s reaction was a sequel to the revelation by the state police command on Friday that Chinyere fell into the abandoned swimming pool on the premises of Cosmila Hotel and drowned.
A statement on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, noted that the autopsy conducted by a pathologist showed that no sign of trauma was found on the body.
Meanwhile, this was contrary to claims that partygoers beat the deceased to death after she was allegedly caught picking naira notes being sprayed on a birthday celebrant on the hotel premises.
The statement read, “On July 17, 2023, the body of a young lady later identified as Miss Chinyere Awuda was found in an abandoned swimming pool within the premises of Cosmila Hotel located at No. 10 Cosmila Close, off old INEC Road by Regina Caeli Junction, Awka.
“It was alleged that the deceased was beaten to death by some persons who had an event at the hotel the previous night. She was accused of pilfering some of the naira notes allegedly sprayed on the celebrant.
“In the course of police investigation, the celebrant was arrested for questioning while the corpse was recovered and deposited at the morgue for autopsy. Contrary to claims that the deceased was beaten to death, the pathologist found no sign of trauma on the body.
“The autopsy report indicated that drowning was the cause of death. This finding was in tandem with claims that the lady ran away when accosted and every effort made to find her that night was futile. It would appear that she fell into the abandoned swimming pool and drowned.”
Ikenga said the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, had directed that the case file be forwarded to the Attorney-General for vetting and legal advice, adding that any development would be communicated to the public in due course.
However, following the release of the autopsy report, the family of the deceased rejected the report, insisting that Chinyere was killed, noting that the circumstances behind her death must be established and that justice must be served.
Enwedo stated, “We acknowledge the autopsy report of the police regarding the alleged murder of Miss Chinyere Awuda, whose corpse was found inside the abandoned swimming pool of Cosmila Hotels and Suites, Awka.
“We are relieved that the police have finally launched their investigation into Awuda’s death and what caused her untimely death, which we continue to believe was a premeditated murder.”
He said the police were forced into carrying out the inquiry, adding that the autopsy report did not resolve the claims of her alleged murder and that the family was prepared to pursue the case further.
