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Two drivers, Emmanuel Okomeyin, 27, and Anyia Austine, 30, have been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attempting to kidnap their employer’s wife, Punch Metro reports.
The accused, whose residential addresses were not provided, are facing two counts of conspiracy and attempted kidnap.
According to the police prosecutor, Michael Unah, the accused allegedly attempted to kidnap their employer’s wife, Mrs Ijeoma Ezeokafor, from her residence.
Unah said the accused committed the offences on October 26, 2018, around 1pm at 1A Dora Crescent, Ajah, Lagos.
He added that the duo conspired to kidnap Ijeoma with the hope of collecting the sum of N20m as ransom from her husband.
Unah stated, “The police got the information from an undisclosed source that the accused were planning to kidnap their employer’s wife at her residence in order to collect N20m ransom from her husband.
“A team of policemen went to the residence of the complainant and let the cat out of the bag and the accused were handed over to the police.”
The charges read, “That you, Emmanuel Okomeyin and Anyia Austine, on October 26, 2018, around 1pm in Ajah, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; kidnapping, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you, Emmanuel Okomeyin and Anyia Austine, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did attempt to kidnap one Ijeoma Ezeokafor, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 406 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The presiding magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties each in like sum.
Fashola said the sureties must be gainfully employed with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court.
In addition, he said the sureties must be blood relations of the accused and also reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
The magistrate adjourned the case till February 25, 2019, for mention.