Evans.
The prosecution witness within the ongoing trial of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, Mr. Uchenna Okagwu, yesterday, narrated to the courtroom how he dropped 233,000 Euros for the gang to safe the rescue of his boss, Mr. Donatus Duru, from the abductors.
Okagwu, who disclosed this in his testimony in an ongoing trial of Evans and his gang earlier than Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos Excessive Courtroom, sitting in Ikeja, stated he couriered the ransom of 233,000 Euros to a location someplace in Okota space to ship to these holding his grasp’s hostage.
Okagwu, who’s a supervisor at Maydon Pharmaceutical Firm Restricted, stated following the information of the kidnap of his boss on February 14, final yr, officers of the agency waited to listen to from the abductors on how you can safe the discharge of their boss.
In his proof, led by Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Okagwu stated being the department supervisor of the corporate, he labored to raised cash to rescue his boss, including: “After about two months, I used to be referred to as by Mr. Anslem Duru, (his boss’ brother) that we have now to go and rescue him with the cash gathered. So, I used to be referred to as to come back and ship the cash to the abductors.”
He defined that based mostly on instruction, he took the sum of 233,000 Euros, counted on the residence of his boss’ brother’s home at Maryland, to the designated level, the place the abductors would decide up the ransom.
“Mr. Anslem Duru, who had earlier been speaking with the abductors on the telephone, handed his telephone to me, as a result of he was instructed that whereas he’s on transit to ship the cash, he can be receiving name.”
In his description of how he delivered the cash, Okagwu stated: “They put it contained in the polythene bag and wrapped it very properly. I tucked it below the passenger’s seat.
“Anslem gave me his telephone, that it’s along with his telephone that I can be receiving name to direct me to the place they may direct.”
The witness additional stated as he moved out round eight pm that evening, he began to obtain calls whereas driving.
“I simply heard the voice saying I mustn’t make any mistake, that I can be shot if I did. I used to be directed and commanded to maneuver to the placement, giving me instruction infrequently.
“On attending to a road at Okota space, I used to be directed to a road instantly after a canal, the place Okada riders used to park. I used to be queried if I had somebody with me within the automobile, and I stated there was nobody with me. They requested if I used to be seeing a blinking mild on an electrical pole and I stated I noticed it.”
Okagwu stated at some extent within the back-and-front motion they subjected him to, he instructed courtroom that, they stated to him: “Park, come down with the ransom and stroll to the again of the car. As I walked in direction of the again of my car, like three steps, the boys commanded that I ought to drop the cash. I noticed a automobile with full lights on on the finish of a road linked to the road.
“After dropping the bag of cash, I rapidly moved all the way down to the home. I noticed a car that seemed appreciated an SUV.”
Whereas being cross-examined by defence counsel to a number of the defendants, Mr. Kayode Ogungbeje, Okagwu stated he didn’t hand over the cash to anyone particularly on the location.
Different counsel within the matter, nonetheless, didn’t cross-examine the witness.
Earlier, when the kidnap sufferer, Mr. Donatus Duru, concluded his proof, Ogungbeje, who cross-examined him, was dissatisfied at some factors with the style the star witness was answering his questions, as he wished the witness to reply sure or no.
Ogungbeje, due to this fact, addressed instructed courtroom: “Because the second prosecution witness will not be prepared to reply the questions posed to him on this cross-examination and my complaints on this regard is taken with a pinch of salt, I shall cease additional cross-examination. I’m a lot obliged.”
The decide due to this fact adjourned the matter until June 22, 2018 for additional listening to.
