Operatives from the Delta State Police Command have made a critical breakthrough in the shocking murder case of a retired High Court judge. The police have apprehended the primary suspect, a security guard who was assigned to the victim's residence.
Suspect Apprehended in Anambra with Stolen Phone
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, Godwin Mngumi, a 25-year-old security guard, was arrested on December 6, 2025. The arrest was made by operatives from the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) based on intelligence. Mngumi was tracked down and apprehended in Anambra State, where the deceased judge's mobile phone was recovered from his possession.
Confession Reveals Plot and Accomplices
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to his involvement in the crime. Edafe revealed that Mngumi admitted to inviting his friend, Nnaji Obalum, and another suspect who is currently at large, to the judge's house where the murder was committed. Following this confession, Nnaji Obalum has also been arrested. The police have intensified efforts to capture the third suspect involved in the heinous act.
A Disturbing Crime Scene and Family's Anguish
The body of Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, a former judicial officer born in Asaba, was discovered in her home behind The Pointer Newspapers in Asaba on the night of Sunday, November 23, 2025. The discovery sent waves of tension across the state capital. Investigations indicated a violent attack, with the assailants binding her hands and feet before ransacking the house.
The immediate disappearance of the night security guard after the murder raised immediate red flags. The victim's brother, Ogbueshi Okogwu, expressed profound shock and confusion over the incident. He highlighted the suspicious behavior of the security detail, noting that the morning guard claimed to have found the gate open and simply sat there without raising a proper alarm.
"My eldest sister was murdered in her house on Sunday night. We only received news of her death on Monday morning," he stated. "A significant red flag is the disappearance of the night security guard." The family has cooperated fully with the police, providing details of the private security company that employed the guards. The police have detained the morning guard for questioning and summoned the owner of the security firm.
