A rising socialite in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Elechi Ikechukwu, popularly known as Shakiti Bobo, has reportedly been sentenced to death by hanging following a case linked to the death of a female student of Ebonyi State University (EBSU).
The case has generated significant debate across the state, particularly among residents of the Ishieke campus area where the incident initially unfolded.
According to information circulating among associates and community members, the deceased student was reportedly in a relationship with a man believed to have once been close to Shakiti Bobo. The associate allegedly betrayed him and reportedly disappeared after taking about ₦800,000.
In an attempt to recover the missing money, Shakiti Bobo was said to have been searching for the individual. During this process, he reportedly encountered the student and questioned her about the whereabouts of her boyfriend.
Sources claim that the student initially denied knowing his location but later disclosed that he had travelled to the western region of Nigeria. Following the exchange, Shakiti Bobo allegedly took her phone and handed it over to officers at the Ishieke Divisional Police Station to assist with tracing the suspect and recovering the funds.
Later that same day, tragedy occurred.
According to reports from hostel mates, the student had previously struggled with repeated academic setbacks and had earlier shown signs of emotional distress. That evening, she reportedly spoke with her mother on the phone and expressed frustration over her academic challenges.
Hours after the call, she was discovered lifeless in her hostel room. Subsequent reports indicated that she had ingested a toxic substance.
Days after the incident, Shakiti Bobo was arrested by authorities and accused of being responsible for the student’s death, largely because of the earlier confrontation between them.
However, his legal team reportedly requested an autopsy during the investigation. The medical report allegedly confirmed the presence of poisonous substances in the student’s body, suggesting she had ingested the substance herself.
Despite this development, the case continued in court, and the socialite remained in custody awaiting trial.
In a ruling that has since sparked widespread reactions, the court reportedly sentenced Shakiti Bobo to death by hanging, a decision that many observers say raises serious questions about the interpretation of the available evidence.
The incident has left many in Ebonyi State reflecting on the tragedy, as it involves both the loss of a young student’s life and the fate of a young man whose case continues to generate debate across the community.
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