A businessman, Mr. Sylvanus Ahamonu, on Friday narrated before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, how he was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and made to pay $420,000 ransom by suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka 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 soldier, Victor Aduba.
Asked to identify Evans (who was standing in the dock alongside Aduba), the witness said, pointing: “I know him; that is Evans.”
He, however, was unable to identify 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 said his driver was waylaid by two or three men in police and military uniforms, who claimed to be operatives of the now 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 jeans trouser.
“I saw his face, he cannot deny it. The men in army and police uniforms were beating me. They said I was wanted by the 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 van 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.
The witness said that three weeks into his alleged captivity, his abductors contacted his wife and asked her to pay $2 million ransom, failing which he would be killed.
He said his wife, in order to meet the demands, sold their property and contacted family, friends and well wishers, and eventually raised $200,000.
“The money was given to them, but they said it was not complete, that she should bring the balance otherwise they would kill me.
“She sold some things in the village, and gave him another $200,000, yet he insisted that the money was not complete.
“My wife raised another $20,000 to give him. We gave them a total of $420, 000,” Ahamonu said.
He told the court that Evans also threatened to kill his immediate elder brother Dominic, who dropped off the first tranche of $200,000, because he reported the abduction to the police.
The businessman alleged that Evans also kidnapped his relative Onyebuchi, who paid the final tranche of $20,000 ransom.
He said he was later released along with Onyebuchi.
Ahamonu said his path and Evans’ crossed again after he (Evans) was arrested 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 collected 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, warning that he would kill her if I died. I had to be flown abroad for treatment,” Ahamonu lamented.
While being cross-examined by Evans’ counsel Victor Opara (SAN), Ahamonu said he never met Evans prior to his ordeal.
He said when he was accosted by the gang and told that he was wanted by SARS/authorities, he initially did not panic because he knew he did not commit any offence.
On raising the ransom money, Ahamonu said he has a large family and a fairly large network of friends who were anxious about his wellbeing.
He told court that his family and friends helped to raise the money.
While being cross-examined by counsel to Aduba, Mr. Emmanuel Ochai, Ahamonu said he was abducted along Kara Road, off Osolo Way in Ajao Estate, Lagos.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case to February 4, 2022, for continuation of trial.