Family Demands Transparent Investigation Into Death of Enugu Event Planner Chinyere Ugwu

The family of slain Enugu event planner Chinyere Susan Rosemary Ugwu, popularly known as ITCHINNYS Event Planner, has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Rosemary’s immediate elder sister, Kenechi Maryam, made the demand in a statement on Thursday, questioning reports about how her sister died and urging authorities to establish the facts before conclusions are drawn.
Maryam specifically challenged reports suggesting that Rosemary was killed because of HIV. She said the claim should not be treated as established fact while investigations into the death are still ongoing.
She also said she personally witnessed an interview involving the suspect in the presence of the Commissioner of Police, her younger brother, their parents and an aunt who is a police officer.
According to Maryam, the suspect allegedly gave differing accounts when questioned about injuries found on Rosemary’s body. She said the family was told that the suspect initially mentioned using a pestle to attack Rosemary but later referred to a machete when questioned about injuries to her head and neck.
“According to the account we heard, the suspect initially spoke about using a pestle to attack my sister. However, when questioned about some of the injuries, including injuries to her head and neck, he reportedly gave a different account and mentioned using a machete,” she said.
The family is seeking answers about what happened to Rosemary, what caused her injuries and what object was used to inflict them. Maryam also questioned reports that her sister’s body was kept inside a toilet within the apartment.
She further called for clarification over items reportedly recovered from the apartment, including a calabash, candles and red cloth or rope. She also asked, “Where is one of my sister’s wrists?” while stressing that the questions were not conclusions about the case.
“These are not conclusions from me. They are questions that require proper investigation and evidence,” Maryam said.
The family urged the police, medical professionals and other relevant authorities to conduct an impartial investigation and establish the circumstances surrounding Rosemary’s death. It also appealed to journalists, bloggers, lawyers, human rights advocates and social media users to avoid presenting unverified claims as established facts.
Maryam called on anyone with photographs, videos or other credible information that could assist the investigation to preserve the material and submit it to the family or appropriate authorities. “We are not asking anyone to take the law into their own hands. We are asking for truth, due process and justice,” she said.
Describing Rosemary as hardworking, ambitious and determined, her sister said the slain woman had been building a future for herself and deserved to have the circumstances of her death properly established.
“My sister was someone’s daughter. She was someone’s sister. She was someone’s friend. She had dreams, plans and a future,” Maryam said. She added that whatever caused her death, “she deserves to have the truth established.