Mrs Chimebere Ahamonu, a businesswoman, told an Ikeja Special Offences Court how she raised a $420,000 ransom for her husband’s release.
On June 23, 2014, Chimebere’s wife, Mr Sylvanus Ahamonu, was allegedly kidnapped by suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans and his gang on Kara Road, off Osolo Way, Ajao Estate, Lagos.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she testified online on Friday via the Zoom App during the continuation of the trial of Evans and a dismissed member of the Nigeria Army, Victor Aduba.
The witness stated that she spoke with her husband in the morning of the abduction, but did not suspect anything was wrong until the evening, when he did not answer his phone.
“Back then, I wasn’t in Lagos; I was in Onitsha.” When I didn’t hear from him, I began calling everyone we knew.
“A week later, a man dialed my number from a hidden number and informed me that my husband had been kidnapped.”
“A week later, the same man called and demanded $2 million in exchange for his release.” I yelled because I had never seen such a large sum of money before.
“I started calling family and well-wishers for assistance,” she explained.
Chimebere claims that a week later, the same man called her, demanding the ransom, and she told him she could only raise N5 million.
“He said I wasn’t serious and that if I don’t come up with $2 million, I won’t see my husband alive.” “He said I should bring it even if it’s $100,000,” she said.
According to the businesswoman, she sold properties, solicited donations from family and friends, and raised $200,000, which she sent to Lagos to her brother-in-law, Dominic, to deliver the ransom.
She claimed that a week later she received a phone call demanding more money and warning her not to send Dominic to deliver any ransom because he had reported them to the police.
Chimebere stated that, fearing for her spouse’s safety, she raised another $200,000 and traveled to Lagos to deliver the ransom herself, accompanied by a relative who escorted her to the drop-off location.
“After dropping the $200,000, he called again and demanded more money.”
“I told him I didn’t have any more money and that people were calling me a scam because of the way I was requesting funds.”
“I was able to raise $20,000, and my husband was released as a result.”
“He directed that my husband be taken to the hospital immediately so that he would not die,” she explained.
Chimebere described the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the second tranche of $200,000 ransom while being cross-examined by Evans’ counsel, Mr Victor Opara (SAN).
She claimed she was unfamiliar with Lagos and needed to be accompanied by a relative named Onyebuchi to drop off the ransom at night.
“Throughout the process, I was communicating with the person on the phone.” The voice was familiar to me. “It was the same voice that had called me,” she explained.
Following her testimony, the prosecutor announced that the state’s case against Evans and Aduba will be closed.
According to NAN, the two defendants face a four-count charge of kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo postponed the case until February 4, 2022, to allow the defense to present its case.
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