3 Docked For Threat To Life, Attempt To Extort N10m

Three brothers Akueche Geogffery Okey, 40, Akueche Nicholas Ifeanyi, 27 and Akueche Chuhchuma, 33, have been arrested by the police at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos Island and arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a four-count charge of misdemeanour to wit, threatening violence to extort N10 million from their victim alleged to be a relative.

The police alleged in the charge sheet that the accused were arrested following complaints by Nicholas Okoye that the accused on 2 February, 2011 in Lagos, threatened his life severally by calling and sending threat messages to him that if he failed to part with N10 million, he would be killed.

The charges also indicated that Akueche Geoffery Okey, between 2005 and 2011 at 28B, Cameroon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State, stole N3.5 million property of Anabel Mobiles alleged to be owned by the complainant.

Following the information, the police advised the victim to play along with the accused.

Nemesis caught up with them on 20 December, 2011 at Tantalizer, Lekki Phase 1, when they allegedly attempted to collect the N10 million from Okoye, unknown to them that he has informed the police of their plan.

After investigation, they were charged to court for threatening violence to extort N10 million. The offences, according to the prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo, are punishable under Section 517, 86(2), 383(27), 390(6) (9) and are contrary to Section 508 and punishable under Section 509 of the Criminal Code, Cap 17, Vol. ii, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

Count 2 and 3 read: “That you Akueche Geoffery, Okey Akueche, Nicholas Ifeanyi and Akueche Chukwuma and others at large on the same day, time and place in the afforesaid magisterial district did threaten the life of Nicholas Okoye by calling and sending threat messages to him that if he failed to part with N10 million, he would be killed.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. M. O. A. Ogunsanya, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum who must be working in a reputable company.

She also directed that one of the sureties must be a blood relation and adjourned the matter till 12 January.

The accused persons were remanded in Ikoyi Prison when they could not meet their bail conditions before the court closed for the day.

—Paul iyoghojie