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12:32 PM

Father kidnaps son for N200,000

A 38-year-old man, Victor Onuigbo, has been brought before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate's Court, Lagos, for kidnapping his own son in order to get a ransom from his younger brother, the boy's guardian.




The prosecutor, Mr. Innocent Effiong, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said Victor had earlier put the five-year-old boy, Chiweike, in the custody of his brother because he did not have the wherewithal to take care of him.
He added that on August 8, 2011, Victor allegedly plotted with some others and kidnapped the boy at the home of his younger brother on Okiri Street, Abule Satellite Town, Lagos, hiding him in a secluded place.
One of his cohorts allegedly called the younger brother informing him that the boy had been kidnapped and that he had to pay the sum of N200, 000 for his release.
The brother was later directed to place the ransom at a particular place where he would retrieve it. Unknowing to him, the boy's guardian had reported the kidnap to the police who laid an ambush at the agreed site.
Effiong said Chiweike himself was the one sent to pick the money and he was promptly apprehended by the police in the process.
It was during interrogation that all facts came out that the father masterminded the kidnap.
On Monday, Onuigbo and his alleged conspirators pleaded not guilty to two counts of felony and kidnap.
The charge sheet against the accused stated in part, "That you, Onuigbo, James Uzofor (22), Kojo Sokode (48), and others at large on August 8, 2011 at Alaba Okiri Street, Abule Satellite Town, unlawfully deprived one Chiweike Onuigbo, of his liberty by taking him against his will to an unknown destination and detained him."
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 365 of the Criminal Code Cap17 Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. C. Adesola-Ikpatt, granted the father bail in the sum of N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum while Uzofor and Sokode were granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 and two sureties each in like sum.
The case will come up for further hearing on September 23, 2011.

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