The manager of Maydon Pharmaceutical company, Uchenna Okeagwu, on Friday, while testifying before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, revealed that he paid he notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, 223,000 euros for the ransom of his boss, Donatus Duru.
According
to SaharaReporters, In his evidence, Okeagwu who is the third
prosecution witness to testify against Evans, narrated how he took the
money from Duru’s brother’s house to Evans and his accomplices.
While being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Titilayo Sh!tta-Bey, Okeagwu said, “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.
“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.”
During
cross-examination, defense 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.
Earlier,
Ogungbeje had told the court that he would refrain from further
cross-examining the 2nd witness, Donatus Duru, who was the victim of the
kidnap, noted that the witness was refusing to answer his questions but
prefer to give answers to questions he had formulated in his mind
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