Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Criminal Court 1 in Benin City, Edo State, has sentenced Dominion Okoro, the housemaid of late Madam Maria Igbinedion, mother of the former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion, to death by hanging for killing the 85-year-old woman at her residence in GRA Benin City on December 2, 2021, before running away with her jewelry.
Okoro, who had served as the housemaid for the deceased for years, killed her because she wanted to cart away her money and personal items.
When she was arrested by the police, Okoro said her late boss never offended her.
But in her confessional statement, Okoro said, ”I killed Mama (Madam Maria Igbinedion) to carry her money. She did not offend me. While she was sleeping on her bed, around 12:01am on December 2, 2021, I used a stool to hit her on the head and she was shouting for help, but only the gateman was around and he did not hear the shout. Mama later died.
“I waited till 4am on December 2, 2021, before leaving the house with Mama’s N100,000, wristwatch, and jewellery. I escaped to Cross River State, but I was later arrested by the police.”
Following her confessional statement, Okoro and her sister were arrested. Her sister, Patience Okoro, was also arraigned in court.
Delivering judgment in the case on Monday, Justice Ipkonwonba convicted Dominion on all the three counts filed against her.
The judge further sentenced Dominion Okoro to death by hanging for murder and robbery with violence while she also bagged life imprisonment for count two which was for applying harmful substances to the late Madam Igbinedion.
But the convict’s sister, Patience Okoro, who was charged for accessory after the facts for murder in count four, was discharged and acquitted by the court.
