26th June, 2012
A 27-year old man, Okafor Chukwujekwu has been arrested by the police in Lagos state, Southwest Nigeria, for allegedly kidnapping his blood brother, Cosmos Chukwujekwu for a ransom.
The victim, who is his elder brother, was kidnapped at Festac Town, Lagos and taken to an unknown place where he was made to pay N4 million ransom before he was released.
Okafor was arrested along with his accomplice, Malik Sherif, 31, and charged before the Apapa Magistrate’s with kidnapping.
The incident happened at 4th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos, close to the victim’s house.
P.M.NEWS gathered that Okafor had asked Cosmos to assist him set up his own business, but Cosmos told him to be patient to enable him raise some money.
Rather than wait, he settled for the devil’s alternative and allegedly ambushed Cosmos along Festac road on his way to his home and took him to an unknown place where they threatened to kill him if he did not pay the money.
The victim surrendered his Honda car, handsets and paid cash of N1.8 million before they released him.
The total value of what he paid them in exchange for his freedom was N4 million.
The matter was reported at Festac Police Division and the defendants were later arrested.
Okafor and Sherif were arraigned before Apapa Magistrate’s court presided over by Mr. E. A. Ogundare.
When the charge was read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
They were remanded in Kirikiri prison while the matter was adjourned.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe