MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 49-year old man, Kenneth Onyeagba, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly faking kidnapping and obtaining the sum of $50,000 Dollars, which is the equivalent of N32m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Police intelligence operatives at Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested Oyeagba and charged him before Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
According to the Police, the suspect allegedly faked the kidnap of one Dumebi to collect the sum of $50,000 equivalent to N31,150,000 from three complainants, which landed him in trouble.
Trouble started for him on 10th July, 2022, at No. 32, Kano Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, when he allegedly connived with one other suspect already charged to Court to call the complainants, Abdulaziz Abduraheem, Solomon Olalekan Bakare and Ikemefune Jude, that they had kidnapped Dumebi.
They claimed that Dumebi was in their custody and that the complainants must pay the sum of $50,000 equivalent to N31,150,000 ransom before he could be released.
The Police further stated that believing the suspect, the complainants allegedly paid the ransom but later discovered that it was a scam.
Thus, the complainants petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Durosimi Olatoye, who swiftly directed his crack team to fish out the suspects and it paid off as the Police tracked the suspects and arrested them at different places.
During the investigation, the Police discovered that the suspect and his accomplice already charged to Court, faked the alleged kidnapping to collect the ransom from the complainants.
Onyeagba was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate Court, Lagos Island, after an investigation by Supol Amos Olatomide and team on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, faking kidnapping and conducts likely to cause a breach of peace.
Police counsel, Mr. Ben Ekundayo, who stood in for Francis Igbinosa told the Court in the charge marked L/16/2024 that the defendant and another already charged in Court faked the kidnap of one Dumebi to collect the $50,000 from the complainants knowing fully that there was no kidnapping.
Ekundayo said the offences the defendant committed were punishable under Sections 411, 314 (1a), 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and 312 (b) and Sections 5 prohibition law of Lagos State and 168 (d) which attracts several years of imprisonment.
He pleaded not guilty.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. Babalola, granted him N10m bail with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 17th June, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded at the Ikoyi correctional facility pending when he perfects the bail conditions.