A businessman, Mr. Sylvanus Ahamonu, on Friday narrated before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, how he was kidnapped, tortured and made to pay $420,000 ransom by alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans) and his gang members.
Ahamonu gave evidence online via the Zoom App, as the third prosecution witness in the trial of Evans and a dismissed member of the Nigeria Army, Victor Aduba.
Led in evidence by Lagos State counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule, Ahamonu said his ordeal began in the evening of June 23, 2014, while he was returning to his residence from work, in his car.
He recalled: “My driver was waylaid by two or three men in police and military uniforms, who claimed to be men of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Evans came into my car brandishing an AK-47 rifle. He was wearing a three-quarter Jean trousers.
“I saw his face, he cannot deny it. The men in army and police uniforms were beating me. They said I was wanted by SARS.
“Their bus was parked closeby and they took me into the bus, put me on the floor and covered my head. They placed their feet on my head throughout the trip.
“After about two or three hours, they transferred me to a Sienna car and took me to a building where they handcuffed my hands and legs and began interrogating me about my personal life and business,” he testified.
Three weeks in custody, the abductors made contact with his wife and demanded $2 million ransom.
Ahamonu said: “In order to meet up with the demand, my wife sold our property and contacted family, friends and well wishers. She was able to raise $200,000.
“The money was given to them, and they said it was not complete, they said she must provide the complete money or they would kill me.
“She additionally sold some things in the village, and gave him another $200,000, and he said the money was not complete yet.
“My wife raised another $20,000, to give him. We gave them a total of $420,000.”
He said that his path and Evans’ crossed again after he (Evans) was captured and held in police custody.
“The police announced that anyone who had been kidnapped by Evans before should come to identify him.
“When I saw him, he started begging for forgiveness, he told everyone the amount of money he received from me, and how he treated me.
“My hands and feet were handcuffed for two months and I was blindfolded for that period. I nearly died.
“Evans told my wife to take me to a hospital, and that if I should die, he would kill her. I had to be flown abroad for treatment,” Ahamonu said.
While being cross-examined by Evans’s counsel, Mr. Victor Opara (SAN), Ahamonu said he never met Evans prior to his alleged ordeal.
While being cross-examined by counsel to Aduba, Mr. Emmanuel Ochai, Ahamonu said that the abduction occurred on Kara Road, off Osolo Way, Ajao Estate, Lagos.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until February 4, 2022, for continuation of trial.
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