A robbery suspect
who claimed to be a movie actor and played a role in a film titled Friday Night
and also the music director at Christ Embassy Church, Zone 1, Idimangoro
Parish, Agege, Lagos, western Nigeria, has been arrested by the operatives of
the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, Lagos Island.
Edward Nnaji, 25,
and two of his alleged accomplices were arrested two years after the allegedly
conspired with others to kidnap a female banker, Popoola Morenikeji, and
collected the sum of N5 million as ransom before they set her free.
The suspects,
according to the police, allegedly kidnapped the victim at Amuwo Odofin area of
Mile 2, Lagos close to her residence when she stepped out of her vehicle to buy
something and took her to an uncompleted building in a bush at Mowe area of
Ogun State.
They allegedly tied
her legs and hands and kept her for four days until a ransom was paid
before they set her free..
The suspects
reportedly set the victim free after her family members paid the sum of N5
million as ransom.
The suspects,
according to the police, also sold the victim’s Toyota Corolla car valued at
N1.8 million for N250,000 to David Nwangboe (now at large).
They also sold all
the jewellery and handsets of the victim valued at N2 million and shared the
loot.
Other suspects
arrested in connection with the crime include Osas Osagie, 23, from Ogbe
village, Oredo LGA of Edo State and Patrick Donatus Jackson, 29, who resides at
13, Famuyiwa Street, Idimangoro, Agege, Lagos, and hails from Akwa Ibom State.
One of the suspects
simply called Jek is also at large.
Police investigation
revealed that nemesis caught up with the arrested suspects two years after they
allegedly perpetrated the act on 1 August 1, 2012.
The alleged ring
leader, Nnaji regrouped with others and sent a threat to life text message to
the victim to send N150,000 into their account for recharge card, with a
warning that if she failed to send the money, they will trail her this time
around and eliminate her.
The banker
immediately sent a petition tothe Inspector general of Police after receiving
the sms to save her from the kidnappers.
The Commissioner of
Police Federal SARS, DCP Chris Ezike, took the matter up and deployed a team
led by Inspector Oluwemimo Banjoko to fish out the suspects and they were
arrested in Lagos and Edo states.
During
interrogation, all the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime and led the
police to the place they kidnapped the woman and kept her for four days before
she was set free. In his alleged confession to the police, Nnaji said Jek
masterminded the kidnapping .
“Jek brought the
information that there was a woman that has money but she was very selfish and
that he will want was to assist him kidnap her and collect money from her. One
of us, Patrick, a private driver, provided his master’s car with which we
trailed the victim to her street at Amuwo Odofin Estate, Mile 2 Lagos and
kidnapped her.
“We blindfolded her
and took her to an uncompleted building at Mowe area of Ogun state and kept her
and contacted her family to pay the sum of N5 million as ransom or else
we will kill her. The family paid N1.5m and not N5m as claimed by the victim
and the police and we released her, but we did not allow the victim to suffer
while in our custody as we fed her with rice and chicken throughout the four
days she spent with us,” said Nnaji.
Continuing, Nnaji
allegedly told the police: “My worry now is that I don’t know how the
devil pushed me again two years after we committed the crime to threaten the
victim again for more money before we were arrested. God has blessed me as I am
the director of music at the Christ Embassy Zone 1 Parish , Idimangoro, Lagos
and also an actor who played a prominent role in a film titled Friday Night
which gave me fame and fortune. I promise to change if I am set free.”
After investigation
the suspects were charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ court, Lagos on a
four-count charge of felony to wit, armed robbery.
The offences the
police prosecutor, Supol Charles Odii said, are punishable under section 6 b,
1, 2(A) and b of the Robbery and Firearms Act and sections 269(1)(2)(3) and 270
of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2011.
The plea of the
accused persons was not taken and Magistrate E. N. Johnson ordered that the
accused be remanded in prison custody pending DPP’s advice on the matter.
She adjourned the
case till 13 January, 2015 for mention
Tags
Society