Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High court sitting in Benin City, has sentenced Dominion Okoro, the housemaid to late Madam Maria Igbinedion, mother of former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, to death by hanging. The convict killed the 85-year-old woman at her residence in Government Reserved Area (GRA) Benin City on December 2, 2021, before running away with her jewelry. Delivering judgment in the case, Justice Ipkonwonba convicted Dominion on the three-count charge filed against her. The court sentenced Dominion to death by hanging for murder and robbery with violence, while the court sentenced her to life imprisonment on count two, for applying harmful substances to the late Madam Igbinedion.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted her sister, who was charged for accessory after the facts for murder in count four. Okoro, who had served as housemaid to the deceased for years, killed her because she wanted to cart away her money and personal items. When she was arrested, Okoro said her late boss never offended her. ”I killed Mama (Madam Maria Igbinedion) to carry her money. She did not offend me. While she was sleeping on her bed, around 12:01 a.m. 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 4:00 a.m. 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,” she confessed. Following her confessional statement, Dominion and her sister, Patience, were arrested and arraigned in court.