Delta State High Court Delivers Death Sentences in Mother Murder Case
A Delta State High Court sitting in Kwale has handed down death sentences to two individuals convicted of the brutal murder of a 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Janeth Odinuwe. The court found 44-year-old Lucky Edozien and his 33-year-old accomplice, Amaechi Enuebuka, guilty of the crime, sentencing both to death by hanging.
Details of the Gruesome Crime and Court Proceedings
According to a statement released by the Delta State Ministry of Justice on Monday, March 30, 2026, the case, registered as HCK/54C/2023 – State vs. Lucky Edozien & Amaechi Enuebuka, was presided over by Justice D.C. Maidoh. The prosecution, led by Assistant Director Mrs. Catherine Onoberhie-Oberuomo, successfully proved that Edozien conspired with Enuebuka to kill his mother at her residence in Umudike Quarters, Ossissa, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, on April 13, 2023.
Edozien allegedly believed that a ring worn by his mother was the cause of his life difficulties, prompting him to plan her murder. In a disturbing agreement, he promised Enuebuka, who worked as a motorcyclist and part-time DJ, musical instruments in exchange for assistance in carrying out the killing.
Execution of the Murder and Legal Evidence
On the day of the crime, Enuebuka distracted the victim's sister, Mrs. Paulinah Okonji, by pretending to negotiate the purchase of scrap metal located behind the house. This ruse allowed Edozien to enter his mother's room unchallenged, where he strangled her to death. Despite the absence of an eyewitness and Mrs. Okonji's refusal to testify, the prosecution relied on the Doctrine of Last Seen and police investigative testimonies to establish guilt.
The court determined that the actions of the duo violated Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law of Delta State, 2006, leading to the conviction and death sentences. This case highlights the severe legal consequences for violent crimes in Nigeria, particularly those involving family members.
