The mother of James Nana Womba, the prime suspect in the murder of Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh, Madam Talata Nona, has lamented the circumstances that led to her son’s death in police custody.

She suspects that her son might have been poisoned while in police custody.

“I was only informed by my son’s girlfriend (One Veronica) that Womba was unwell.

“I was told that somebody gave him fried rice.

“I think the fried rice might have been contaminated.

“My son might have been killed through food or some people were after his life,” she told journalists.

According to her, the last time she set eyes on her son was last week Monday and he was not showing any sign of ill health.

She added that although her son died last Saturday, 17 October 2020, she was only informed about it on Monday, 19 October 2020, by four armed men from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The mother-of-two said she would consult her lawyer to know the next line of action.

“I don’t know what to do now,” Madam Nona said.

According to her, the last time she met her son, she only gave him money and engaged him in a conversation and left.

She also disclosed that her son had denied knowledge of the murder on countless occasions, assuring her that things would be well.

Madam Nona said Womba was the breadwinner who did driving, plumbing, and electrical works effortlessly.

“Womba has worked with the late Prof Benneh for over one-and-a-half years and due to his hard work, the Prof. agreed to work with him after Womba’s mistress, whom he was working with, travelled,” she said.

The police, in an official statement, said Mr James Womba fell unconscious and was rushed to the Police Hospital but passed on while on admission.

Womba’s death has raised a lot of debate about how the prosecution of the case will go.

The police explained that the suspect fell sick on Thursday, 15 October and was sent to the Police Hospital for treatment but was discharged on the same day and sent back to police cells.

He fell unconscious on Saturday, 17 October 2020, was taken to the Police Hospital but died on admission.

The police say an autopsy will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.

He had confessed to killing his boss, a law lecturer of the University of Ghana, Legon.

 Womba, in his confession, told the police that he had the motive of robbing his late boss.

He noted that he and his accomplice were compelled to knock out the victim, killing him in the process, after he failed to yield to their demands.

The late law lecturer was found dead in his room on September 12, 2020, at his Adjiriganor residence.

The late Professor Benneh who was last seen in his neighbourhood on September 10, 2020, was found in a pool of blood with his hands tied.

Subsequently, the police, after commencing an investigation into the murder, arrested four suspects who were all domestic workers of the professor.