Legal experts are warning that "ignorance of the law" will be no defense if investigations prove that the snake bite which killed singer Ifunanya Nwangene was a premeditated act of malice.

The call for a deeper inquiry is growing louder as details emerge about the multiple snakes found at the deceased's residence. Legal analysts argue that using an animal as a murder weapon does not absolve the perpetrator of criminal liability. The presence of three snakes in an urban residence is being flagged as statistically impossible without human intervention.

The Legal Implications

Under criminal codes across the region, causing death by setting a dangerous animal upon a person constitutes murder or manslaughter, depending on intent. "If it can be proven that these animals were introduced to the environment, we are looking at a First Degree Murder charge," explained a criminal law expert in Abuja. "The weapon was biological, but the intent was lethal."

• Forensic Trace: Investigators will need to determine if the snakes were wild or captive-bred, which could lead them to the supplier.
• Motive: The probe will likely expand to interview close associates and rivals to establish who stood to gain from the singer's demise.

A Dark Precedent

While rare, "murder by snake" is not unheard of in criminal history, often used to mask a killing as a natural accident. The lawyer representing Nwangene's family is adamant that the police treat the scene as a crime scene, not an accident site. They are demanding a toxicology report to confirm the venom type matches the snakes found.

This case challenges the legal system to look beyond conventional weapons. If the allegations hold true, it exposes a chilling sophistication in criminal methodology that the law must be prepared to prosecute to the fullest extent.