By Umma Muhammad Ishaq
Godwin Mngumi, the prime suspect in the murder of a retired Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, has confessed to killing the jurist while attempting to rob her of phones and other valuables.
Mngumi, 25, made the confession in a video released on Wednesday by the spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, and posted on X.
According to the suspect, he recruited two accomplices to carry out the robbery at the Asaba residence of the deceased, located behind The Pointer Newspapers.
While being interrogated, Mngumi disclosed that he had been recently employed as a security guard at the residence and had worked there for less than two weeks before the incident.
“We did not plan to kill her; we only planned to take her phone. When we went there, we tied her hands and her legs. We took her phone, wristwatch, necklace and power bank,” he confessed.
He explained that the retired judge had two mobile phones, adding that one of his accomplices, 21-year-old Nnaji Obalum, kept the larger Samsung handset, while the smaller phone was sold for an undisclosed amount.
Obalum, who was also paraded by the police, admitted that he was arrested in possession of the Samsung phone.
“The Samsung phone was found with me. I put my SIM inside,” he said.
Both suspects expressed remorse and appealed for forgiveness.
Edafe disclosed that a third suspect involved in the crime remains at large, while investigations are ongoing to apprehend him.
He also urged residents to thoroughly vet domestic staff and security personnel before granting them access to their homes.
Justice Okogwu was found dead in her residence late on Sunday, November 23. Police investigations revealed that her attackers bound her hands and legs before ransacking the house in what was described as a violent and targeted attack.
Operatives of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department arrested Mngumi on December 6 in Anambra State, where he fled after the incident.
