A Benin High Court on Tuesday remanded the suspects in connection with the death of Maria Igbinedion, mother of former governor of Edo State Lucky Igbinedion, in Edo State Correctional Centre.
While Dominion Okoro, 25, is the prime suspect, her alleged accomplices are Patience Okoro, 39; Francis Taga, 51; Ezikiel Danjuma 24; and Abraham Kuje.
Justice Efe Ikpomwomba remanded the accused persons in the correctional centre pending advice from the state’s director of public prosecution (DPP).
Earlier, the prosecutor CSP Peter Ngwumba told the court that the suspects were charged with murder, accessory to murder, negligent act, causing harm, robbery among other offences.
He said the suspects were arrested on December 3, 10 and 13 in Benin, Edo State, Aba in Abia State and Ikom in Cross River State respectively.
The prosecutor further told the court that the prime suspect, Ms Okoro, a cook to the deceased on December 2, in Ugbor, GRA Benin, killed her and stole her N100,000, a golden wrist watch and necklace and absconded.
He said the suspect after committing the crime informed her elder sister, Patience Okoro, about the crime who instructed the suspect to run away with the stolen items.
Speaking further, he said the third accused person, Tagan, aided the suspect to escape by taking her to Agbor park, Ikpoba Okha Local Council of the state to enable her escape arrest.
He said Danjuma and Kuje who are security guards to Mrs Igbinedion conspired and unlawfully committed negligence of duty to protect life and property of the deceased and permitted the prime suspect to escape.
The case was adjourned till January 26.
