Christ Embassy Music Director Arrested For Kidnapping Female Banker

A robbery suspect who claimed to be a movie actor and
played a role in a film titled Friday Night and also claimed to be the
music director at Christ Embassy Church, Zone 1,
Idimangoro Parish, Agege, Lagos, 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 they 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 August 1, 2014. 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 to the 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.