Why I employed associates to kill my stepmother – Suspect

A 20-year-old man has allegedly killed his stepmother in Awka, Anambra State, South-east Nigeria.

The suspect, Ekenedilichukwu Okeke, reportedly strangled the sufferer, Theresa Okeke, on 28 September in her residence in Awka.

The suspect confessed that he employed his associates, 19 of them, to help in killing the stepmother, in line with a report by The Nation.

Mrs Okeke was an accountant with the Nationwide Inhabitants Fee earlier than the incident.

‘Why we killed her’

The suspect was paraded by the police within the state, on Friday, alongside the three of the 19 different suspects on the State Prison Investigation Division, Awka.

The prime suspect, Mr Okeke, mentioned he and his associates killed the sufferer in order that he might switch N1 million from her checking account by way of her cell phone.

He admitted that the sufferer had been aiding him in paying his college charges.

He mentioned he employed his associates to help him perform the act, shortly after the deceased insisted that he should depart her home following a misunderstanding between them.

“I had a misunderstanding with my mother, alongside the road, and he or she scolded me. I pleaded along with her, pondering she has forgiven me. However the subsequent day she requested me to go away the home,” the suspect mentioned.

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He mentioned he phoned his father and his elder brother to tell them in regards to the disagreement along with his stepmother, however solely the brother answered his name.

He mentioned he not too long ago received admitted right into a college and had been attempting to boost cash for his charges.

“After, I referred to as my associates to assist me get cash from my mother so I can use it for my charges forward of my admission. Alongside the road, she collapsed and slumped,” he mentioned, with out giving particulars.

“I’m very remorseful and praying to God to have mercy on me and the federal government to forgive me.”

One other suspect, Peter Jideofor, confessed that he (Jideofor) tied the sufferer’s mouth when she tried to scream.

“He (Okeke) advised me he had a problem along with his step mom that I and different guys ought to assist him extract N1 million from her. It was round 2 a.m. We tied her fingers and ft.

“When she wished to shout, I personally tied her mouth. Within the course of, she stopped respiratory. It was at that time I left as a result of my mission was to not kill. Once I was leaving, I advised the man to maintain checking on her each half-hour.

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“But it surely was within the morning he advised us that she’s useless. All of us have been in shock and fled, however I stayed indoors till the day I used to be arrested,” he mentioned.

Mr Jideofor, 24, claimed to be an orphan and that he had not killed anyone earlier than.

The Commissioner of Police within the state, Echeng Echeng, mentioned Mr Okeke, in an try to mislead, lodged a grievance that his step mom had been “murdered” by unknown individuals.

Mr Echeng mentioned Mr Okeke claimed armed robbers stormed their residence and killed his stepmother.

However, “after an intelligence-based interrogation,” he finally confessed to the crime and named his confederate.

Other than Messrs Okeke and Jideofor, two extra suspects have been additionally arrested, in line with the police.

The police commissioner recognized the 2 different suspects as Chukwuemeka Christopher, 29 and Chisom Emmanuel, 22.

He mentioned Mr Okeke, the prime suspect, knew the password of his stepmother’s telephone, however didn’t know the private identification quantity for her checking account.