Eight citizens of Ghana, Benin Republic and Burkina Faso were on Friday remanded in Correctional facility by a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, over alleged conspiracy, kidnapping, human trafficking.
Those remanded in the Correctional facility are; Gabriella Ewenam ‘F’ 25; Ghanaian; Oscar Semekor ‘M’ 25, Ghanaian; David Abban ‘M’ 25, Ghanaian and Tefutor Obed ‘M’ 25, Ghanaian.
Others include: Dissa Latif ‘M’ 22; Ivorian, Gnango Gerrad ‘M’ 26, Beninous, and the dou of Niamba kikao ‘M’ 23 and Kalizeta Zon ‘F’ 22 who are Burkinabes.
Magistrate Azeez Alogba ordered the remand of the suspects sequel to two separate motion Expartes marked M/470/2025 and M/496/2025, filed and moved by Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer in the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
In urging the court to remand the suspects, Animashaun to the court that the motion is pursuant to Section 264(1), (2) (3), (4) of Lagos State, 2021 (As Amended); Sections 4 & 10 of the Police Act, 2020 and Sections 6 (6), 35 (1) (C), (5) & (7) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (AS amended).
The police lawyer told the court that the suspects were arrested following a due intelligence carried by the operatives of International Police (Interpol) led by Mr. Bode Ojajuni, a Commissioner of Police incharge of Interpol Section FCID Annex, Ikoyi Lagos, in connection with the suspects’ countries Interpol.
He also told the court that the Exparte motions are supported with affidavits deposed by the duo of Inspector Sanusi Akindele and Inspector Oyebisi Oni, attached to Interpol section, ForceCID Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
He also told the court that the remand orders sought for was for 30 days, to able the Interpol conclude investigation on the alleged acts of the suspects.
In th affidavit in support of the Exparte deponent by Sanusi Akindele reads: “that I am the above named officer as well as one of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) who is investigating a criminal case to wit: Conspiracy, Human Trafficking and Obtaining money by False Pretence the sum of $1,007 USD (approximately) N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) by virtue of which I became conversant with the facts depose to herein.
“That the respondents/defendants in this case were arrested in connection with a case of Conspiracy, Human Trafficking and Obtaining moncy by False Pretence the sum of $1,007 USD (approximately) N2, 000, 000.00 (Two Million Naira) reported and received from NCB ACCRA against the respondents/defendants. Annexed and marked as Exhibit FCID A-A1 are certified true copies of the request for assistance from Accra (International Criminal Police Organisation) National Central Bureau (NCB) dated 29th day of September, 2025 with Reference Number: 91/V.48/4801/TP and Interim Police Investigation Report with reference number: AB: 4099/X/ICPO/ ADM/LS/HTE/VOL.4/392 dated 2nd October, 2025; annexed and marked as Exhibit A2.
“That during the course of investigation in this matter, the victim was invited, and he voluntarily made a written statement to the Police, wherein he stated that his son, one John Barnes Nana Donkor, was trafficked from Ghana to Nigeria under false pretence of procuring a Canadian Work Permit Visa for the victim. It was further stated that the sum of $1,007 USD (approximately) N2, 000, 000.00 (Two Million Naira) was obtained in the process.
“That it took several efforts by the police to arrest the Respondents/ Defendants through tracking devices the defendants/respondents were arrested at Alatise Area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State and further requires led Detectives to arrest them at the aforesaid address and rescue the victim on the 1st of October, 2025.
“That the Respondents/Defendants, antics and practices, lured the victim from Ghana to Nigeria under the false pretence of procuring a Canadian Work Permit Visa.
“That it is necessary to seek the order of the Honourable Court for an order to remand the Respondents/Defendants mentioned above in Correctional Centre Ikoyi, Lagos for thirty (30) days pending Director of Public Prosecution Legal Advice.”
While Inspector Inspector Oyebisi Oni made the following aveerment: “That Iam the above named officer as well as one of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) who is investigating a criminal case to wit: Conspiracy, Kidnapping, Human Trafficking and Demanding and Received the sum of N4,700,000.00 CFA (approximately) N12, 220, 000. 00 (Twelve Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) as ransom by virtue of which I became conversant with the facts depose to herein.
“That the respondents/defendants in this case were arrested in connection with a case of Conspiracy, Kidnapping, Human Trafficking and Demanding and Received the sum of N4,700,000.00 CFA (approximately) N12, 220, 000. 00 Million, as ransom reported and received from NCB Abidjan/Binton Berthe ‘F’ against the respondents /defendants. Annexed and marked as Exhibit FCID A-A2 are certified true copies of the request for assistance from Abidjan (Directorate Generale De La Police Nationale) dated 17th day of September, 2025 with Reference Number: /DPC/NCB/SAF/DND and Interim Police Investigation Report with reference number: AB:4099/X/ICPO/ADM/LS/CNU/VOL.4/340 dated 2nd October, 2025; annexed and marked as Exhibit A3.
“That during investigation in this matter, the victims were invited and they volunteered their written statements to the police and stated how they were kidnapped and paid ransom before they regained their freedom at Badagry Area of Lagos State and Ijebu-Ode Area of Ogun State respectively.
“That it took several efforts by the police to arrest the respondents/defendants through tracking devices the defendants/respondents were arrested at Badagry Area, Lagos State and further requires led Detectives to Ayesan Street, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State where the victims were kept after receiving ransom from them.
“That the respondents/defendants antics and practice are to lure the victims from the Republic of Benin and other African Countries and canvassed them for the purpose of procuring travelling documents to European Countries and get them kidnapped and reap them of ransom.
“That the respondents/defendants and others now at large used different mobile monie Bank Account to wit: account number +22898908295 belong to 2nd respondent/defendant (Gnango Gerrad, a Beninnous) as well as +212620395341 belong to 4th Respondent/Defendant (Kalizeta Zon, a Burkinabe) to receive the sum of N12,220 million, as ransom.
“That it is necessary to seek the order of the Honourable Court for an order to remand the respondents/defendants mentioned above in Correctional Centre Ikoyi, Lagos for thirty (60) days pending Director of Public Prosecution Legal Advice.”
Magistrate Alogba after listened to Barrister Animashaun, order d that the suspects be remanded at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), for 30 days, to enable Interpol to conclude its investigation.
The Magistrate thereafter adjourned the matter to November 17, 2025, for Directorate of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) advice.
