Witness: I took €232,000 ransom to Evans’ gang

Uchenna Okeagwu, manager of Maydon Pharmaceutical company, says he paid 223,000 euros to Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, suspected kidnap kingpin better known as Evans, as ransom for Donatus Duru, owner of the pharmaceutical company.

He said this while testifying before the Lagos state high court in Ikeja on Friday.

Okeagwu, who is the third prosecution witness to testify against Evans, narrated how he took the money from Duru’s brother’s house to the suspect and his accomplices.

“I am a manager at Maydon pharmaceutical company and have been working with them for over seven years. After we heard of the kidnap of Duru, we waited to hear from the kidnappers so we will know what to do to rescue him,” he said.

“As the manager of the Idumota branch, we worked towards raising money for the kidnappers when they asked for ransom. After about two months, I was called by Anselm Duru, Donatus brother to come and deliver the money to the kidnappers that they have raised 223,000 Euros.

“After counting the money, we put it in a polythene bag and wrapped it very well with sellotape and I went with the money. Anselm gave me his telephone that they would use it to direct me to where I would take the ransom to.

“I started receiving calls with the phone from the kidnappers saying I should make no mistakes that if I do, I would be shot. I was asked if I know the way towards Mile 2 and I said yes, I went with the money inside the vehicle, putting the money under the passengers’ seat in the front and I moved out of the compound towards Mile 2.”

Okagwu said he received further calls from the suspected kidnappers who described the routes they want him to follow.

“I received another call and I asked if I should follow Oshodi-Isale or Oshodi-Oke and they said I should follow Oshodi-Oke. I was driving slowly so I entered service lane so I won’t cause traffic. I left the house before 8pm. I was asked to enter the express when I got to Ijesha so they will not collect the money from me,” he said.

“I was asked if I know the eatery at Apple Junction, that is, Tank and Tummy, and I said yes and was told to park there. I waited for about 15-20 minutes and was directed to move to Apple Junction at Festac inside. I was asked to put on the inner light of the vehicle and drive slowly.

“I was directed towards Okota and was told to enter a street immediately after the canal where Okada men usually stay. I was asked to drive down the street and was asked to describe everything I see and should tell them when I see a blinking light on an electric pole.

“I was told to turn back at a point and left from where I entered. I was told to turn back again towards where I came from to the end of the street and told to turn back again. At a point, I was asked to park, get down from the vehicle with the ransom and walk back.

“As I walked to the back of my vehicle, like three steps away, I was asked to drop the ransom and I did and was told to move immediately after dropping the money. As I looked around, I only saw a vehicle parked at the beginning of the street with full lights on, the vehicle looked like an SUV Jeep.”

During cross-examination, defence counsel for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, Olukoya Ogungbeje, asked if he saw anybody when he dropped the ransom or gave it to anybody directly, the witness said he did not see anybody nor gave the ransom to anybody directly.