CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Police intelligence operatives from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad, Ikeja, have arrested two ladies, Agnes Ogbeh, 23 and Esther Anyanwu, 24, for allegedly kidnapping themselves in order to obtain N5m ransom from their families but it failed in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that apart from arresting the key suspects, Agnes and Esther, the Police also apprehended their accomplice, Margaret Itodo, 25 and Anthony Chinakwe, 24, for their respective roles in the alleged plot to obtain ransom by self kidnapping.
According to the Police, the key suspects, Agnes and Esther planned with Margaret and Anthony, put themselves in mode as kidnapped victims and sent a video of their being kept in captivity tied with ropes.
Then Anthony and Margaret were brought into the plot and they established communication with the two families separately for ransom so that they will be released from hostage.
However, unknown to them, the matter was reported to the Police, who were trailing them from their operational base. They were eventually arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
During the investigation, they confessed and told the Police that Agnes and Esther did so in order to obtain the money from their relatives and brought Anthony and Margaret as the facilitators in the plot.
The Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy and self kidnapping, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The Police alleged that between 28th February, 2024 and 20th March, 2024 at Mosan area of Ipaja and Oke-Ira area of Badore, Ajah, the suspects did conspire and faked kidnapping.
The Court did not take their plea when they were arraigned after the prosecutor, Inspector Ajayi Emanuel, asked the Court to refer the case to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the matter.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Raji, ordered their remand in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.