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Evans demanded $2m, got $420,000 before releasing my husband – Witness
A businesswoman, Mrs Chimebere Ahamonu, has narrated to an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos State, how she raised a ransom of $420,000 for the release of her husband, Mr Sylvanus Ahamon, allegedly abducted by a suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike aka Evans.
Sylvanus was reportedly kidnapped on June 23, 2014 on Kara Road, off Osolo Way, Ajao Estate.
Chimebere, who gave her testimony via Zoom on Friday during the continuation of the trial of Evans and a dismissed member of the Nigerian Army, Victor Aduba, said she had spoken to her husband in the morning of the fateful day, but did not sense anything amiss until evening when Sylvanus’ phone rang out.
She said, “Then, I was not living in Lagos, I was in Onitsha. I started calling everyone we knew that I did not hear from him. A week later, a man called my line with a hidden number (and said) that my husband was kidnapped. Another week later, the same man called me and demanded $2m for his release. I shouted because I have never seen that kind of money before. I started calling family and well wishers for help.”
Chimebere said the same man called her after another week, demanding the ransom but she pleaded she could only raise N5m, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“He said that I was not serious and that if I do not come up with the $2m, I am not ready to see my husband alive. He said even if it is $100,000 I should bring it,” she said.
The businesswoman said that she sold property, sought donations from family and friends and managed to raise $200,000 which she sent to her brother-in-law, Dominic, for onward payment to the caller.
She said she received a phone call a week later and the caller demanded more money, warning her not to send Dominic to deliver any ransom because he had reported them to the police.
Chimebere said she raised another $200,000 and came to Lagos to drop the ransom alongside a relation at an agreed spot.
She added, “After dropping the $200,000, he called me again to demand some more money. I told him I have no more money and that people were even calling me a scam because of the way I was appealing for funds. I managed to raise another $20,000 and it was after that my husband was released.”
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Following her evidence, the prosecutor announced that the state would be closing its case against Evans and Aduba.
In his testimony, Sylvanus told the court how he was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and made to pay $420,000 ransom by Evans and his gang members.
When he was asked to identify Evans, who was standing in the dock alongside Aduba, he said, “I know him; that is Evans.”
He, however, was unable to identify Aduba.
Ahamonu said he was returning to his residence from work in his car when his driver was waylaid by about three men in police and military uniforms, who claimed to be men of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
He said, “Evans came into my car brandishing an AK-47 rifle. He was wearing three-quarter jean trousers. I saw his face, he cannot deny it. The men in army and police uniforms were beating me. They said I was wanted by SARS.
“Their bus was parked close by and they took me into the bus, put me on the floor and covered my head. They placed their feet on my head throughout the trip. After about two or three hours, they transferred me to a Sienna car and took me to a building where they handcuffed my hands and legs and began interrogating me about my personal life and business.”
NAN reports that Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until February 4, 2022, for continuation of trial.
Punch
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Edo court sentences three to death by hanging for kidnapping, murder
Edo court sentences three to death by hanging for kidnapping, murder
An Edo State High Court has sentenced three persons to death by hanging for armed robbery, kidnapping and murder.
They were convicted and sentenced by Justice Irele-Ifijeh of the Edo State High Court, Benin City.
The convicts are identified as Solomon Abuede, James Monday and Kelvin Edward.
They were sentenced to death for armed robbery, kidnapping and the murder of one Ephraim Akhere in Ihumudumun quarters in Ekpoma, the headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of the state
Justice Ifijeh also sentenced one Oviasogie Sunday, alias Alhaji of Kano, to life imprisonment for receiving an Infinity Jeep with registration number EFR 218 FB, property of the late Ephraim, which was stolen after the murder.
The convicts were among the six persons arraigned before Justice Irele-Ifijeh in suit number: HEK/25c/24 on a six-count charge of armed robbery, kidnapping, conspiracy and receipt of stolen property.
The court, however, exonerated two others accused, David Williams and Monday Ozomo, for lack of evidence linking them to the robbery and kidnapping.
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In her judgment, Justice Ifijeh held that the kidnappers rode on a motorcycle, armed with dangerous weapons, kidnapped their victims and asked Ephraim, the driver and Sandra to move to the back seat and lower their heads while Solomon took over the driver’s seat.
The judge averred that the convicts then drove to the bank while two of them stayed with their victims inside the car.
She added that the other went to the bank with Ephraim’s ATM card to withdraw money from his account.
She disclosed that after the withdrawal, the convicts were said to have driven to an uncompleted building where one of them named Solomon Abuede threw Ephraim into a well after giving him rat poison to swallow, while the girl was given the option of jumping into the well or eating the rat poison.
The judge, further said that Solomon who provided the rat poison later spared the girl’s life but raped her instead.
The judge further added that James Monday who was said to have provided the gun used for the operation and Monday Ozomo took the Infinity Jeep and two other stolen vehicles to Kano where Oviasogie paid N420,000 for the Infinity Jeep out of the agreed N500,000
In a 91-page judgement, Justice Irele-Ifijeh said the confessional statements of Solomon Abuede, James Monday and Kelvin Edward that they participated in the armed robbery were corroborated by the evidence of one Sandra, a prosecution witness who was in the same vehicle and kidnapped along with the late Ephraim.
The judge, who said the offences were committed on June 13, 2023, said that the conviction of the three persons was in line with Section 3 of the Kidnapping Prohibition Amendment Law of Edo State 2013 and the Armed Robbery and Firearms Act.
Three to die by hanging for kidnapping, murder in Edo
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BREAKING: Police arraign 29 Yoruba Nation agitators in Ibadan
BREAKING: Police arraign 29 Yoruba Nation agitators in Ibadan
No fewer than 29 suspects were on Wednesday arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court for involvement and roles in aborted invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Saturday, April 13.
The offences, according to the Investigative Police Officer, Bakare Rasaq, an Inspector with the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan is contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminak Code, Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
The number is an increase of eight more following the parade of 21 suspects erier by the Oyo Police Command.
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Whereabouts of two FRSC officials unknown over five weeks after abduction
Whereabouts of two FRSC officials unknown over five weeks after abduction
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi has confirmed the abduction of two of its personnel by gunmen along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway.
Sector commander of the FRSC in Ebonyi, Henry Igwe, told journalists on Tuesday in Abakaliki that both personnel were abducted on March 8.
Igwe said the two personnel had concluded their duties at the corps’ Nkalagu office and were returning to Enugu when they were abducted.
He said the corps contacted their families, who informed them that the officers had yet to return home.
“The families said that some people contacted them that they were kidnappers and were demanding ransom.
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“The negotiations are between the families and kidnappers, and as an organisation, we have been doing the much we can,” he said.
The sector commander said his office had informed its headquarters of the development and formally reported to relevant security agencies.
He noted that it had not been established that the personnel were either alive or dead, but the fact remained that they had not been seen.
Jude Okpor, Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and Orientation, dismissed the insinuation that the state government was nonchalant about the situation.
“The matter has inter-state connectivity, and the government has initiated measures with its affected sister state to nip it in the bud,” he said.
DSP Joshua Ukandu, the police public relations officer in Ebonyi, urged families of victims to report such incidents to the command so that it can establish whether the incident happened at the Ebonyi axis of the road.
“The situation is more of an Enugu issue, and information on it should be sought from the Enugu command of the force.
“I believe some steps are being taken to combat it, but our safer highway teams stationed on the affected axis always assist commuters in crossing safely from the area,” he said.
Whereabouts of two FRSC officials unknown over five weeks after abduction
(NAN)
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