A man has been apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly planning the kidnapping of his sister.
The suspect, Chigozie Egegonye, 27, has been arrested over the plot against his sister who is identified as Franca.
Franca, along with her four children, who suddenly disappeared from their home in Mayowa Street, Ago-Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, have been declared missing since April 2016, Punch reports.
Egegonye had reportedly told his friend, Michael Oluchukwu, that his sister was stingy, despite her wealth.
Oluchukwu, who is a cobbler, sent a text message to the victim, giving her a requirement to pay N300,000, or risk being kidnapped and killed.
Franca, scared for life, called the suspect, pleading that she could only afford N50,000.
Oluchukwu agreed, according to reports, and sent her his bank account details.
It was, however, gathered that Franca had yet to send the money when she and her children went missing.
The victim husband then involved the State Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, who conducted a manhunt for the suspect.
A police source revealed that Egegonye was the mastermind behind the plot.
Chigozie (Egegonye) and Michael (Oluchukwu) are childhood friends. After losing contact, they reunited in Jakande Estate, Isolo, where Michael had his workshop.
“On April 13, 2016, Chigozie went to Michael’s shop and told him he had a sister who was so stingy that each time he demanded money from her, she wouldn’t give him. He asked him to send a threat message to her on the phone.
“They told the woman how she normally took her children to school every day. They said she should pay N300,000 within 12 hours or risk being eliminated together with her four children,” he said.
Investigation revealed that the suspect was said to have sent a First Bank account number 3034268561 with the name Chigozie Egegonye.
According to another source, France and her children had gone missing on the same day that the money had been yet to be paid.
He said, “The man got home on that day and discovered that his wife and the children were missing, including his two cars. He found the house scattered and all the luggage of the wife and children taken away.
“The man said he received a text message from his wife detailing the death threat she received. He said he called his in-laws to tell them he had not seen his wife and the children and they told him to go and find her. All of them thought he masterminded the kidnap of his wife and children.”
According to Punch, the Police used the account number and phone number of Oluchukwu to track down the suspect.
Oluchukwu was later arrested. However, he denied kidnapping his sister, saying that she had left the house due to a disagreement she had with her husband.
“My sister and her husband are rich, but they always quarrel in the house. She had wanted to quit the marriage, but I begged her. My sister fears a lot. I and my friend sent a threat message to her line and she used that opportunity to run away from the house. I blame myself for everything that happened. I am now repentant. I wasn’t praying at home before I came here. Now, I lead the devotion in the cell.”
Egegonye said ignorance and greed motivated him to take part I the act, adding that he has learnt his lesson.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said she would keep Punch updated with further developments.
