Six men facing charges of kidnapping and theft denied bail

A group of seven Nigerian men alleged to be members of a kidnapping for ransom syndicate will remain in custody after six of them were denied bail by the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Promise Ogomegbulem, 30, Collins Anthony, 36, Mosa Airiagbonkpa, 34, Jonathan Musa, 32, John Freedom Agim, 31, Eze Ajude, 34, and Elisho Odiaka, 33, were all arrested on 29 March, in Rembrandt Park, after the brother of the complainant alerted police about his alleged kidnapping.

They are facing charges of kidnapping, theft, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

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Ogomegbulem chose to abandon his bail application.

Galaxy, Blacky and the owed money

According to NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane, on 28 March, the complainant was picked up in Sandton by two men who allegedly identified themselves as police officers from the Sandton South African Police Service (SAPS).

He was notified that they had been sent by Galaxy, a guy he was familiar with.

“Without any hesitation, he went with them to where Galaxy was. Upon arrival, the two officers disappeared, Galaxy started to demand money from him without giving him any reason and the complainant was reluctant,” said Mjonondwane.

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Eight men allegedly appeared and forcefully put him inside their vehicle and drove to Rembrandt Park, where he was assaulted with open hands and the butt of a firearm, while further demands for money were made.

“The complainant did not have any money to give to the accused. He was forced to contact his family members or friends to get money. The complainant managed to transfer $2000 from his wife’s Bitcoin account to the number they gave him,” said Mjonondwane.

“The accused demanded more money and gave him a phone to make more calls to arrange for the money. It is during this period that he got an opportunity to send his brother to the location without the accused noticing his act.

“When the complainant’s brother received the text message of the location, a SAPS van appeared that was patrolling the area. He approached them and reported the matter to them, he also showed them the text he had received. The police officers drove straight to the location and upon arrival, they found eight men one of the men told them he had been kidnapped. The police searched and found accused 1 (Ogomegbulem) and 2 (Collins) with firearms containing ammunition.”

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According to the NPA, during their application to be released on bail, all accused claimed that the complainant was known to them and that he owed money to their friend ‘Blacky’ and was now trying to use the law to escape his obligation to pay him.

Bail denied

State prosecutor Penwell Mhaga argued that, if it is indeed true that the complainant owed them money, they could have taken the legal route to recoup their finances, rather than taking the law into their own hands.

He further added that the accused are likely to intimidate the complainant or interfere with the proper administration of justice if released on bail.

They were denied bail.

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