How Evans kidnapped, killed my 86-year-old father after collecting N15m – Ex-Super Eagles player

When news broke that suspected notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike (AKA Evans) had been arrested in Lagos by the police on June 10, many people celebrated the security agencies that made it happen.

But far less known was the celebration it produced in the compound of the Iloenyosi family of Abagana, Anambra State.

For this family, the news of Evans arrest was a personal victory.
It all began one early morning on November 25, 2013 when the patriarch of the family, Chief James Iloenyosi, was kidnapped on his way back from mass.

His son, Chikelue Iloenyosi, former Super Eagles player who played professional football in France and Turkey, has not been able to get over what happened to his father. He narrated the event that quickly became a game of hide and seek between criminals and the law enforcement agents.

He told Saturday PUNCH in an emotion-laden tone that his father, who was 86 at the time, was on his way back from their local Catholic church when three SUVs double-crossed him and whisked him away.

He would never see his father alive again.

“When they took him away, they did not talk to us until after five days. They phoned my twin sister. She was sobbing when she called me that the kidnappers had made contact.

“When we the children gathered, my sister called the kidnappers again and they simply told us that they would call back. They did not call back until after another five days just to build our anxiety.”

The N50m ransom negotiation

According to Chikelue, with no idea what could be going on with his father, the kidnappers on the morning of the fifth day called to demand a ransom of N50m.

The routine of begging and pleading for the reduction of the ransom started at this point and after many days, they eventually reduced the ransom to N15m.

Chikelue said, “When we paid the N15m, my father was already dead and we did not know.
“What made me upset was that despite how seriously we worked to get him back, my father did not come out of it alive.”

But upon payment of the ransom, the kidnappers said they were not releasing their victim until the family brought more money. But they never heard from the kidnappers again.

Breakthrough arrests four months later

However, after four months of investigation into the kidnap, said to have involved hundreds of policemen in Anambra State combing the forest at the time, security agencies got a break when a member of the gang that kidnapped Chikelue’s father, a suspect known as Nonso, was arrested along with three other members of his gang.

Chikelue said at the time, Evans was already a popular criminal well known to the State Anti-Robbery Squad of the Anambra State Police Command.

He was said to be a wanted robber known for hitting bullion vans.
“The SARS boss in Anambra told me at the time that any suspect arrested for any major crime always mentioned the name of Evans,” he said.

According to him, the family had to involve a private investigator in the case at a point when there was no longer news about their father’s whereabouts months after the family paid the ransom.

In addition to this, he said a friend of his based in Israel helped to track his father’s line and traced it to a young lady, who said Nonso was his boyfriend.

Chikelue told Saturday PUNCH, “When we arrested the girl, she said Nonso only gave her the phone for safe-keeping, instructing her not to put it on.

We started tracking Nonso. At a point, the current leader of the IRT, Abba Kyari, gave us 18 of his men to follow us to Cotonou, Benin Republic because our trace on Nonso’s line showed he was there.

“We got there and the police arrested a young man, who said he came to buy a car. He said the number was not his and that he only wanted to use it to call somebody in Nigeria.

The police had to let him go when it was clear he knew nothing.
“Later we left the Cotonou guy. Again, our private tracker traced him to Lokoja, Kogi State.”

Evan’s gang member arrested in Lokoja

However, intelligence later suggested that Nonso was in Lokoja.
According to him, he and other members of the gang were said to have relocated there immediately they shared the ransom because many security agencies were after the gang.

Chikelue said after identifying the hotel the suspect might be hiding in, some members of the SARS team in Kogi State moved in to make the arrest.

He said, “I was in Lokoja for two months with a private tracker before we arrested Nonso.
“When we got to the hotel with the police that day, we requested for the list of the people staying at the hotel. The hotel staff mentioned a “small boy” with his girlfriend in one of the rooms.

“We knocked on the door and the girlfriend came out. He said her boyfriend was in the bathroom. But I was hearing a sound inside. He was trying to escape through the window but SARS operatives were already stationed around the hotel.

“He eventually came out and said his name was Emmanuel. But I knew it was him right away because we had been able to obtain his photograph ahead.
“But because I did not want him to panic, I pretended it was not him and told the SARS operatives in his presence that the person we were looking for was an older man.

“He relaxed and was going inside when I called him and said I wanted to ask him something. I dialled his phone number there and then when it rang, we took it and it showed the name ‘Kidnapper football’. The SARS operatives immediately pounced on him and handcuffed him.

“I asked Nonso if he knew me, he said he did not. I told him I was the footballer whose number he saved with that name. He then asked if I was ‘General’ – my alias – and I said yes.”


Punch Report

INEC begins process of Melaye’s recall July 3

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it will begin the process of recalling Senator Dino Melaye on July 3, 2017 as demanded by his senatorial district.

Representatives of Kogi West Senatorial District had on Wednesday submitted six bags containing over 100,000 signatures requesting that Melaye be recalled as his people had lost confidence in him.
Melaye had laughed off the move to recall him, describing it as a hoax and a comedy of error.

INEC, in a statement said it held its regular weekly meeting on Thursday and considered the petition submitted by some registered voters from Kogi West Senatorial District to kick-start the process of recalling Senator Melaye.

The body said in accordance with its guidelines for the recall of members of the National Assembly, the Commission had formally acknowledged the receipt of the petition to the petitioners’ representatives and has conveyed a letter notifying Senator Melaye of its receipt of the petition.

“The next step is to verify that the petitioners are registered voters in the Kogi West Senatorial District.

“INEC will, on the 3rd of July, 2017 issue a public notice stating the day(s), time, location and other details for the verification exercise,” the statement said.

PM News Report

Kidnappers write to another Lagos school, vow to abduct pupils

There is palpable fear at the Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry, as kidnappers have threatened to abduct some pupils and staff members of the school.

It was learnt that the kidnappers sent two letters of the same content to the junior and senior sections of the college respectively.

This is just as the daughter of a councillorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Odi Olowo Local Council Development Association, Ilupeju, Bode Adeosun, was reportedly abducted.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that that the letters sent to Kankon were posted on the corridors leading to the offices of the two principals.

In the letters sighted by our correspondent, the kidnappers claimed responsibility for the abduction of six pupils of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who had spent 28 days in captivity.

They vowed to abduct six pupils from Kankon, as well as the two principals of the college, boasting that nothing could stop them.

A copy of the letters read, “Kidnappers are visiting the school the same way we did at Igbonla, Epe. We are going to capture three pupils from senior school and three from junior school. We are kidnapping both principals.

“We are coming in two days’ time. No security put in place will stop us from gaining entry and fulfilling our mission as stated in this letter. Be expecting us!”

Our correspondent learnt that the letters were sent to the college about two weeks ago, while the security agencies and the state government were alerted.

Policemen and soldiers were said to have been deployed in the school.
However, when the ultimatum given by the suspects elapsed, the security presence around the school reportedly reduced, which caused panic.

Some parents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had initially wanted to keep the threat secret, but decided otherwise due to the reduction in the number of operatives manning the school.
One of the parents said he had visited his ailing son, who is in Junior Secondary School, on Saturday, June 10, when he saw one of the letters.

“As I was passing by the principal’s office, I saw a notice and stopped to read it. I was shocked when I read the content. The principal was not around at that time, but I alerted some staff members present.
“I informed the Parents Forum Association chairman, who contacted the school authorities. The government and security agencies had also been informed.
“A large number of policemen and soldiers were initially deployed in the school. There were also security vans patrolling the school surroundings.

“But when I went back four days after, the number of security men had reduced considerably. I saw only two policemen at the school gate.”

Another parent said he was at the school on Wednesday (yesterday) to assess the security situation, but was disappointed, urging the government to take the threat seriously.

He also lamented that the school fence was very low while there were bushes at the back of the premises, which could be exploited by the hoodlums.

He said, “Part of the bushes had been cleared upon the threat, but there are still a lot to be done. The school fence needs to be raised. There should be light around the fence for safety at night.”
A parent called for massive security around the school, saying some insiders could be aiding the hoodlums.

“There is a Nigerian Air Force base near the school; the threat should not be taken for granted,” she added.
The PFA Chairman, Mr. Wale Alo, said the case was reported at the Akpa Police Post and Area K Command, Badagry.

He said, “We have been trying to beef up security. The state government sent policemen and military personnel. The school also employed some vigilantes to secure the school, especially at night. I learnt that the deputy governor is aware.

Although the handwriting on the letters looks like that of a child, the content is beyond any pupil’s reasoning. The school is a little bit far from the waterside, but we must not leave anything to chance.”

A member of staff of the college, who begged not to be named, said security was required in the school.

He said, “It was the junior school that got the letter first. After three days, the same letter was dropped at the senior school.

The school employed local vigilantes after the letter was received. They left after some days, saying the government did not appreciate their effort. They said if anything happened to them in the course of protecting the school, they could be abandoned.

“These vigilantes are the ones really doing the work. In the middle of the night, they were around the hostels, hiding in the bush. Presently, two policemen are on duty per shift. Once it is 11pm, they go to sleep.

However, five policemen patrol the road leading to the school every day.”
The school authorities, however, described the letters as a rumour.

One of the two principals, Mr. Sunday Fadaunsi, said, “We regard the letters as a rumour. Parents and pupils have been circulating it, but nobody can come up with any letter.”
When asked about the security measures put in place in the school, he said, “the deputy governor is handling that.”

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the government was aware of the letter, adding that the security of the school, pupils and staff was guaranteed.

He said, “We are aware and the security agencies are on high alert and alive to their responsibility. Whether it is a threat or a prank, the Lagos State Government will not yield any of its schools or pupils to the evil machinations of kidnappers.

We shall secure our schools and every pupil and tutor. The police and other security agencies are up to the task. This is an assurance to the Model College, Kankon, and the general public.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the police had beefed up security in the school and other colleges in the coastal areas of the state.

“There is intelligence report that these people (kidnappers) may perpetrate criminal acts at model colleges. The police are using proactive measures to fortify the schools, including Kankon, to prevent what happened in model college, Igbonla.

“The Area Commander, Area K, said there is an adequate police presence at the school and there was no cause for alarm.”

Meanwhile, the APC councillorship candidate’s daughter, Bukola Adeosun, was allegedly kidnapped around 9pm on Tuesday while she was sent on an errand to Shilon Street, Ilupeju, with her younger sister.

Her father, Bode, said the abductors contacted him around 1.30am on Wednesday with a hidden number.

He said “ Bukola, was sent on an errand with her younger sister, but only the little sister came back.
“Around 1.39 am, we got a call from the kidnappers confirming that Bukola is in their custody.
“I believe the kidnap of my daughter has some political undertone since local council election is coming up next week.”

The state PPRO said a case of missing person was reported to the police.
He said, “The family said she went to buy fish around 10pm, but she didn’t return. We are investigating. She is an adult.”

Punch Report

13 banks takeover Etisalat over N541bn debt default, amid fears of job losses

Despite the concerted attempts by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to save Nigeria’s fourth largest telecommunications services provider, the consortium of banks, led by Access Bank PLC finally made real its threat to take over the management of the Etisalat Nigeria Limited.

The takeover which was consummated on June 15, 2017, thus ended months of speculations about the company’s future after it failed to honour the terms of $1.72 syndicated loan facility arranged for it in 2015 by local and foreign financial institutions.

The loan which was a foreign backed guaranteed  bond was meant to assist Etisalat Nigeria expand its network and refinance an existing $600million facility to help it compete in the nation’s rapidly growing telecoms industry.

Other local banks involved in loan arrangement included, Ecobank Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank, First Bank and Union Bank to mention a few.

The takeover of Etisalat followed the collapse of  efforts by Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services, (EMTS), promoted by-one time Chairman, United Bank for Africa, UBA, Hakeem Bello-Osagie, to reach agreement with the banks for the restructuring of the its N541.8 billion debt owed the banks.

However, EMTS Holding BV, established in the Netherlands, has up to June 23 to complete the transfer of 100 percent of the company’s shares in Etisalat to the United Capital Trustees Limited, the legal representative of the consortium of banks.

Etisalat Group, the parent company of Etisalat Nigeria, announced the takeover on yesterday in a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate.
The filing, with reference number Ho/GCFO/152/85, and dated June 20, 2017 signed by Etisalat Group Chief Financial Officer, Serkan Okandan, said efforts by EMTS to restructure the repayment of the syndicated loan by a consortium of banks to Etisalat Nigeria collapsed.

“Further to our announcement dated 12 February, 2017, Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC, “Etisalat Group” would like to inform you that Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited “EMTS” (“the company), established in Nigeria and an associate of Etisalat Group with effective ownership of 45 per cent and 25 per cent ordinary and preference shares respectively, defaulted on a facility agreement with a syndicate of Nigerian banks (“EMTS Lenders”).

“Subsequently, discussions between EMTS and the EMTS Lenders did not produce an agreement on a debt restructuring plan.

“Accordingly, the company received a default and security Enforcement Notice on June 9, 2017 requesting EMTS Holding BV (EMTS BV) established in the Netherlands, and through which Etisalat Group holds its interest in the company) requiring EMTS BV to transfer 100 per cent of its shares in the company to the United Capital Trustees Limited (the Security Trustee”) of the EMTS Lenders by June 15, 2017.

“Subsequently the EMTS Lenders extended the deadline for the share transfer to 5.00 pm Lagos time on 23 June 2017,” the filing said.
Unable to meet its debt servicing obligations agreed since 2016, the consortium, prodded by their foreign partners, threatened to take over the company and its assets across the country.

Recall that Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had earlier mediated on the impasse by urging the banks to  give Etisalat a chance to renegotiate the loan’s repayment schedule.

Etisalat Nigeria Vice President Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Ibrahim Dikko said the company was still in discussion with lenders to find a non disruptive solution.The core investors had said its financial exposure to Etisalat Nigeria was related to operational services worth 191million dirhams about $52billion and that discussions were on regarding the use of Etisalat brand.

It is understood that Nigeria’s severe economic downturn has had a big impact on both subscriber numbers and average revenue per user (ARPU) rates across the telecoms industry in the country. Nigeria is currently in the middle of its first recession in a quarter of a century.

Already stakeholders in the telecommunications industry have been quite apprehensive about an impending job losses following the takeover. They have expressed fears that the takeover would trigger more job losses as the new management may want to prune existing workforce in an attempt to cut cost to recover their funds in the organisation faster.

Although activities at both the head office of the Etisalat and its other outlets have continued without disruption, most of the staff no doubt are already getting jittery they might  be thrown into the labour market soon.

Another possible outcome of the takeover could be a loss of identity and further shrinkage of Etisalat subscriber base considering the competitive nature of the telecommunications industry.
A former, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Engr Enest Ndukwe, told Daily Sun that since he didn’t have enough information on the issue yet  he would not be able to comment.

He however promised to respond after assessing the development later in the week.
 But the President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (Atcon) president, Olusola Teniola, on his part lamented that it was a regrettable action.

“It is unfortunate that Etisalat found itself in this mess when we thought they would have an amicable outcome. It was more of a takeover led by Access Bank. We all know from history that banks running telecoms operations don’t end well but often collapse such operations.

“What ATCON is praying for is that the over 24 million subscribers are protected and the stakeholders including shareholders both new and old understand that customer is king. The impact on the country and industry can be underestimated.

The regulator should step in and guide the banks in the best way to run the operations of the company so that there won’t be migration of subscribers. Courteous and customer service should be paramount. It should help to ensure that the subscribers are confident and that Etisalat continues as a growing concern.

What we don’t want to happen is when consumers start expressing concern that all is not well and they start reducing in numbers or making announcement that may jeopardise recharge credits. This may  have huge impact on the revenue of company and even on the GDP of the economy as telecoms currently contributes about nine per cent to the economy’s GDP.

If there is any impact on Etisalat, it would have ripple effect that may not only be astronomical not only to the supply chain, but all the industry and all those who depend on the network to run critical networks, banking systems,  and other online systems that we have in today’s economy”.

In a swift reaction on learning about the takeover,, the NCC assured consumers that all was well, adding, “We  reassure the over 21 million Etisalat subscribers that NCC will do all within its regulatory power to ensure that subscribers continue to enjoy the services provided by the operator.

“The Commission has taken proactive steps to cushion the impact of the takeover, this is without prejudice to the ongoing effort between Etisalat and the banks toward negotiated settlement”.
NCC was optimistic that one of the biggest firms in the country’s competitive mobile telecoms industry can continue operating on the same level as at present to prevent more crisis.

Earlier the Commission said in a statement that : “NCC was worried about the fate of the over 24million Etisalat subscribers and the wrong signals that takeover  may send to potential investors in the telecom industry. The Director Public Affairs of the commission, Mr Tony Ojobo disclosed that the Commission was aware of the indebtedness of Etisalat to the consortium of banks.

In conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the NCC had mediated by holding several meetings with the banks, Etisalat and other stakeholders with a view to finding an amicable resolution; But regrettably these meetings did not yield the desired results.

However, that the Commission has drawn the attention of the banks to provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 Section 38: Sub section 1 – The grant of a license shall be personal to the licensee and the license shall not be operated by, assigned, sub licensed or transferred to another party unless the prior written approval of the commission has been granted.

Sub section 2 – A licensee shall at all times comply by the terms and condition of the license and the provision of this act and its subsidiary legislation.
“Whilst the banks and Etisalat are working at resolving the issues, the Commission wishes to assure subscribers that they will continue to enjoy the services provided by Etisalat”

Also reacting to the takeover, another stakeholder stated it would be will be interesting to see what effect the economic crisis has on the wider Nigerian telecoms industry over the next few months considering that the Nigerian naira lost a third of its value against the US dollar during the course of 2016.

From all indications, the takeover of Etisalat has become a test case for Nigerian government stakeholders who are all making efforts to pull the country out of recession. The case is a big test of Nigeria’s regulatory authorities. The CBN is concerned about the impact of the debt on the stability of the Nigerian banking sector and its ability to continue lending to locally registered private sector companies. A stakeholder said .

Daily Sun Report.

Five female suicide bombers attack Borno, kill 17

At least 17 persons were killed after five suspected female suicide bombers attacked Kofa Community near Dalori in Borno.

Eyewitness told newsmen in Kofa that the incident occurred around 8:30pm Sunday, when Muslim faithful were performing their night prayers.

“We heard loud sound around 8:30pm, near a mosque, forcing people to run back to their houses
“As we were preparing to rescue the victims of the first blast, we heard another explosion close by.
“It was really terrifying; many people died and many others were injured

“The third explosion occurred after a short while.
“Eventually, we evacuated eight bodies in the night, to the hospital, while 25 others were injured,” recounted Malam Ibrahim Kolo, member of a vigilante group.

Mr Victor Isuku, spokesman of Borno Police Command, confirmed the incident, saying 17 persons were killed during the attacks.

“On Sunday , at about 2030hrs, five suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies in Kofa community, which is about 8km from Maiduguri, and situated along Maiduguri to Konduga road.

“The first suicide bomber detonated near a mosque, killing seven persons.
”The second detonated in a house killing five persons, while two other suicide bombers detonated within the same vicinity, killing themselves only”.

“A total of 17 persons, including the five suicide bombers died, while 11 persons sustained injuries and were rushed to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

“Police anti explosive team were mobilized to the scene and normalcy has since been restored,” he said.

However, spokesperson of the North East Zonal office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said in a statement in Maiduguri that 16 people were killed.

“At about 8.45 pm, two female suicide bombers were intercepted when they tried to gain access into Dalori 2 IDP camp.

“Two other female suicide bombers also detonated their explosives at the adjoining Dalori kofa village at about 8.10 pm, where they killed 16 people,” Ibrahim said.

“A total of four suicide bombers were involved in the incident.
Injured victims have been administered with first aid and transported to hospitals within Maiduguri for treatment,” said Ibrahim.

PM NEWS

Driver kills lover, dumps corpse in neighbour’s bathroom

A commercial bus driver, Anthony Akhimien, (popularly known as DPO), has been arrested by the police in Benin, Edo State, for allegedly killing his girlfriend and dumping her corpse in a neigbhour’s bathroom.

The deceased in her 30s, was said to have passed the night (Wednesday to Thursday) in the suspect’s house at 17b, Akugbe Road, close to Uwa Market, off TV Road, in Benin.

Residents of  No. 7, Obomwan Street, off 2nd West Circular Road, were however shocked when they woke up Thursday morning to find the corpse of the deceased inside their bathroom.
The residents raised the alarm when they discovered the corpse and thereafter alerted the police at Textile Mill Road Division.

Some of the residents who craved anonymity said they heard the victim and her lover, quarreling and fighting at about 4.00am on Friday.
 
They alleged that following the death of the victim, her lover carried her lifeless body through the fence and deposited it inside the bathroom of a compound behind his house.

As at press time, men of the Textile Mill Road Police Division have evacuated the corpse while occupants of 17b Akugbe Road where the alleged murder occurred had deserted the house for fear of indiscriminate arrest by the police.

It was, however, gathered that the suspect was apprehended by some soldiers who broke his door at about 3.00pm and found him inside the room and handed him over to the police at Textile Mill Road Division.

Spokesman, Edo State Police Command, Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the incident, said investigation was ongoing.

PM NEWS Report.

HAVE MERCY ON US, EVANS WIFE, UCHENNA BEGS NIGERIANS

…I didn’t know he was into crime
…He took part in our daily prayers and always prayed Psalm 23
…His wealth should be sold off and given to his victims
…I didn’t know he was this rich, the highest he gave to me was N200,000
…Please, forgive him for the sake of myself and the children

The call was a surprise. And in the words of our Crime Editor, Emma Nnadozie “it was shocking but revealing and even pathetic.” The caller had said “hold on for Evans’ wife.” The female voice quickly pleaded to Mr. Nnadozie to call her back as she did not have enough credit. Nnadozie returned the call from Ghana and the caller told her story.

Excerpts:
My name is Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike, the wife of the Chikwudubem Onwuamadike who you call Evans. I am 31 years old. I got married to Evans at the age of 17 at Oraifite, Anambra state in 2004. He met me while I was coming back from lesson as a student of All Saints Secondary School, Oraifite and I was in class 6 going to take my West African Examination.

After we met, I agreed to go with him because of my poor background. He told me his father married three wives when he was six years old and threw his mother out of his house. He said that one of the wives influenced his father to drive them out of his house also and they were forced to stay with outsiders. Evans was taken to his grandmother who trained him.

He told me his father accused the mother of being adulterous before driving her out of his house. Our marriage is blessed with five children. Our first issue is 12 years plus and her name us Udochukwu.

After we got married, he said I should stay with his mother in his village at Akanmiri, Umudim, Nnewi to teach me how to be a good housewife. I was there for three years before he took me to Lagos. We were living at Satellite town in 2006 and after one year, he relocated us back to the village because he could not pay house rent. While in the village, he normally came to see us.

We spent three years in the village and relocated to Ghana. On our way to Ghana, we passed through Lagos and stayed at Benny Hotels in Festac where we spent two days before travelling to Ghana.

He spent a month with us in Ghana before coming back to Lagos. I was pregnant with our fourth child in 2010 when he left for Nigeria to come back in two months time. After I gave birth, he came back four months later and was able to clear the accumulated bills we kept for him because I borrowed money from friends to clear hospital bill.

When he came back, he complained bitterly that things were rough for him in Nigeria and that customs seized his goods. I was not aware that he was into kidnapping and all the criminal acts he is being associated with now. All I know about his business is that he was into haulage, buying engine and spare parts for trucks and imports exhaust pipes.

That was what he told me. The reason he kept me in Ghana was because he said our children should get quality education. I have spent six years here and after I stopped hearing from him, I called and complained bitterly but he said I should stay for some time.

I then called his friend, Okechukwu, who now lives in China. He told me that he has not been seeing him and that he spends most of his time with a girlfriend in Festac. When I called him to complain, he was angry with me and warned that I should stop listening to gossip.

He said that If I should return, I should go to his younger brother’s house in Lagos until he is ready to get accommodation for us. The brother was formally living in Lagos but he is in Brazil now. So, when it was impossible to pay my children’s school fees, I packed my bags and baggage and came back to Lagos with our children.

We stayed at his brother’s house at Agric, close to Trade Fair until he took us to a house in Magodo where he claimed he owed rent pending the completion of his own house there. We have spent just one year in that house in Magodo. I have no idea of the type of business he was into but he told me that his friends overseas used to buy phones and jewelries for him.

While in Lagos, i was idle and I pressured him to find something for me to do and he promised to do that. Several times, I asked him to take me to his office but he said they move from place to place to offload goods in haulage business and share profits. I can’t remember having any visitor in our house. It is only the agent called Sunny that helped us to pack into our house that I know.

At times, artisans come to do one repair or the other, that’s all. I don’t know any of his friends and if we were invited to parties, he would not allow us to attend. He told me that he has no friends and that he hates associating with people.

I was always indoors because he warned me to beware of Lagos women that they are wayward. I was staying indoors and it was only when I was sick that he took me to a hospital in Ikeja. I always have BP and it makes weak.

We went back to Ghana on the 6th of this month and he promised to join us in no distant time. On the 9th, I called him to know when he would be coming and even the youngest of our children was crying, begging him to come as soon as possible and he promised to come. In the afternoon, I called but he was not picking.

I called again, there was noise in the background and the line was switched off. I then called the driver that took us to the motor pack when we were going to Ghana and he told me that there was a problem, that police came and arrested Oga and that they came with a fair complexioned lady.

When I heard all the allegations against him, I called his brother in Ghana, his mother, father and other relations but I could not get them. I then called their last born, a student at Oko Polytechnic but he said he had not spoken with him for long. I was confused until I opened Niger news and Vanguard Websites.

That was how I got the shocking news about my husband. I collapsed and later called my kids to inform them what I just read about their father. Since then, I have not eaten, I am still in shock. Our children could not believe what they were reading about their father. They are saying that he cannot do all the things they said he did. In fact, while we were in Nigeria, he had never slept outside our house.

My children were crying when they saw his bloody eyes and swollen face. Our condition was worsened when I saw my picture with him and our children on the face book. I don’t know where they got it. I have not been receiving money from him, I have never seen his money.

The only thing I know is that there was a time he bought an expensive watch in Dubai and I wanted to know why he bought it when he could not open any business for me. He kept on teasing me, claiming it came from a friend. It was only when we wanted to travel to South Africa last year Christmas where we spent two years that he gave me N200, 000 for the trip.

I have never seen him as a rich man. While with him, we made sure we had all we wanted to eat and that’s all. I can’t remember seeing any sign of affluence in him. He is not a proud man and he has been wearing one sandal and slippers for long now.

He does not go for parties. In fact, I have never suspected him as a criminal. If I have been seeing any strange things, I would have suspected him. We have three cars, one Hilux, one grand Cherokee and an SUV.

The N20m they said he sent to me through transfer was given to one Hausa man to pay into an account in Ghana to be used in paying our rent and furnish the house in Ghana. I know he banks with GTB only. Their staff used to visit us in the house. I am not aware that he has five girlfriends and I have never suspected him because he did not keep late nights. It was shocking to hear about his girlfriends.

He did not answer calls in my presence. I uses to see his phones being charged but he normally switched them off. I always asked him why use pin code to lock his phones and that he lived a secret life but he threatened to beat me if ever I touched any of his phones. I didn’t even know the security pin.

He would leave the house sometimes in the evenings with his phones and would come back between 8pm and 9pm. Most of the things I read about him are strange to me. As his wife, I should have seen the signs but I have not. He has cancer and does not drink alcohol nor smoke anything. I have never seen gun in our house.

I don’t know where they got those frightening guns. He has never told me he has another house at Igando. Any time he went out, he always called to ask after the children and reassure me that he would be back soon. I am suspecting that whatever happened to him must have come from his father’s second wife. I don’t know what he did to him when he was young but he told the story.

He said that after their mother was driven out of the house, he was with his brothers playing outside one day when the second wife called him to pick a bucket and collect water for her. He was four years then, he picked the bucket, collected water and when he came back, she removed her dress and she was wearing only a bag made from animal skin on her waist.

She brought seven small stones from the bag, gave to Evans and ordered him to pour the stones into the bucket to know if the gravel would rise (sail) on top of the water or not. Evans said he did as she directed but the only thing the woman did was to take the bucket back and ordered him to go back and play with his brothers.

He said he told his father later but he said he was telling lies. I feel very bad because I did not know if he was doing all these or not. Even if he was into all these, why did he not stop because of me and his children? All the time when we pray, he used to promise God that he would tell Him his story later in life.

Here reads psalm 23 a lot. Even his phone, he sets alarm for 12 noon to read psalm 23. He took part in our daily prayers in the morning, evening and night. He used to lead us in prayers. We attend Anglican Church. He has never given them money to show off.

We used to give N5000 or N10,000 and the highest we have given so far was N50,000 when we baptised one of our children. I am appealing to the powers that be to spare his life (crying), as I speak now, I am kneeling down with my children, crying and begging for forgiveness. Have mercy on us. He did not know what he was doing.

He did not know what came over him. I am ready to come back to Nigeria and plead on his behalf. What I am reading in the news is shocking. Though, I have not heard that he killed anybody but all those he injured or took their money should please forgive him because me and my children.

They should kindly forgive him, he will repent. God knows I will not be alive and see my husband doing bad thing and keep quiet. All his wealth should be sold off and given to his victims. Evans is a good man. He takes care of all his relations including the children of the second wife we are suspecting did this to him.

He has just two houses in Ghana but I have never seen them. I saw the house on his phone. Since I have been living with him, he has never injured anybody or beat me. He has milk of human kindness in his heart. He has not been harsh or wicked to anybody. He always advised us to be prayerful I (starts crying again) and complains bitterly any time I failed to pray.

His neighbours also know him as a kind and generous man. Members of my family are worse hit by this ugly development. They said some people brought newspaper publications to show them about their in-law and they have been wondering if he actually did all that because he has been good to all of them.

I am from a very good, God-fearing family and if any of us had suspected this in him, they would have forced me out of his house for long. I am ready to come back and testify on his behalf. I will also like to see the Governor of Lagos state and explain the whole thing to him.

They said he is rich but I have only N13, 000 in my Diamond bank account. He does not give me money. He told me he will be paying N40, 000 into my account every month but after two months, he stopped, claiming that he was penniless.

Vanguard Report