Four suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapped of a four-year old boy, Steve Kanu at Laderin Estate, Abeokuta were yesterday arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Abeokuta on two counts charge.

The accused, two males and two females; Uchenna Atuokwu, 25, Asalu Oluchi 20, Amoke Innocent 35 and Kenechi Amoke 22 were arrested by police three weeks after they allegedly committed the crime.

At the hearing, were two witnesses, Mr. Mucipay Kanu-Muangi and Mrs Bukola Kanu-Muangi who were parents of the victim. They both narrated how their child was kidnapped and their telephone conversation with the kidnappers, demanding for N40million ransom while the victim was in their custody.
The duo recalled that after series of plea, the kidnappers collected N1million ransom on Friday, November 6, 2015 but failed to release the boy, insisting that they won’t take less than N15million as ransom.
They added that the victim remained in their custody till Thursday, November 19 when he was rescued by the police in Nzukka, Enugu State.

The mother of the victim, who burst into tears during cross examination said the kidnappers used an MTN phone number 08104500181 to send “jittery messages” to the family, declaring that if the ransom was not paid within a stipulated time, the boy would be killed and the corpse dump in front of the family house.

She told the court, “A day after our son was kidnapped, I received a call from 08104500181. The caller said he was having my child in his custody. He threatened that if I want my son alive we should pay N40million and if we do not pay within 48 hours, they would kill the boy and dump his body in front of the family gate”

The couple who were cross examined separately said they were shocked when one of the arrested female suspect, was discovered to be their ex-staff, who served as a cleaner in the private hospital of the victim’s father.

The complainants (victim’s parents) were represented by Mrs. Gladys Imegu, Officer in Charge, Legal and Prosecution, Ogun State Police Command while the accused were represented by Olufemi Idris and Oluwatoyin Omomehin
The Magistrate, Emmanuel Adekunte adjourned further hearing till Thursday, January 14, 2016 for further hearing.