Five Nigerian nationals and two Kenyan women who abducted their business associate and sent Whatsapp messages to his family members over a Kshs 45 million shillings business deal gone sour have been arraigned in a Nairobi Court.
The seven were brought to court after they allegedly called Ehiarekhian Duke for a business meeting at a house in Kileleshwa on the night of June 3, this year.
Duke told Police that immediately after he landed in Kenya on June 29, Henry Ochuko one of the suspects called him and led him to a rented house in Myra Residence Blockhouse No. A7.
He was then locked up in a bathroom, stripped naked, and forced to squat while being assaulted with kicks and blows.
He was then told that he was under their custody until he pays them 350,000 US dollars for a business transaction in which he allegedly conned one of them back in Lagos Nigeria, in 2020 and disappeared.
According to the Police, the suspects include Henry Ochuko, Osoyi Erewelle Ochuko, Oseyi Edosa, Jordan Idehen, Ogbeifun Dennis, Ojeaga Edoh, Halima Venesa and Julieta Gakuu, Ochuko called Duke who is well known to him, requesting for a meeting to discuss business.
” Upon entering the House, the 1st respondent who was in the company of two other persons who were joined by 2nd, 3rd,4th, and 5th respondents informed the complainant that he was now under their custody until he refunds the money he received in Lagos way back in 2020. One of the persons started beating the complainant inflicting injuries on his left chin, left eye nose, head, and left middle finger leading to bleeding”, read the affidavit.
Detectives further told the court that they tortured Duke while taking video images using his phone which they later sent to his family friends and families back in Nigeria demanding that to stop the beatings and torture the complainant must pay back the money.
“That they undressed the complainant, took him to the bathroom, forced him to squat, and poured on him cold water. They also recorded video images using his phone which was also sent to the families in Nigeria through WhatsApp “, court papers state.
Ochuko then allegedly sent his account details to the families of Duke to send him money so that he could release him.
Today in court, the State through Gerald Kamwaro asked the court to allow them to detain them for three days as they complete their investigations.
However, their Advocate Peter Omingo opposed the application for detention saying that the alleged abduction was about a 350,000 US Dollars business deal in Nigeria gone sour.
“Your honor what they are not telling you is that they were doing business together. The alleged abductee failed to pay 350,000US dollars for the delivery of goods in Lagos. My client is legally in Kenya, he has two children and is willing to cooperate with the police”, he argued.
Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi detained them for three days at Parklands Police Station.
They will be presented in court on Friday to answer the charges.
