The police have arrested an ex-security official, Kingsley Orumo, and a messenger, Tobiloluwa Fabunmi, for threatening to kill their boss who works for Elixir Company. The company is located on Olabode Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State. It was learnt that Orumo, who was laid off by the company conspired with Fabunmi to write a letter to the boss, Mrs. Gloria Williams, demanding that she pay them N500,000 ransom within three days or lose her life.
The letter was dropped inside one of William’s cars on December 4 by the suspects. On December 7, when the ultimatum issued to her had run out, the suspects reportedly sent a text message to a line of the 32-year-old woman, who lives in the Lekki area of the state, instructing her to drop the money near a waste dump or be killed with her unborn baby.
Williams, who was said to have initially shunned the letter, panicked after receiving the text message and headed for the Bar Beach Police Station to report the threat. The police said they traced the phone number with which Williams was messaged, leading to the arrest of the suspects at a place on the Victoria Island.
The suspects were also said to have confessed to the crime. It was gathered that the 26-year-old messenger told his friend, Orumo, that Williams instigated his sacking by the company. Our correspondent also learnt that Fabunmi lured the ex-worker to the act, claiming the boss was gullible.
They were both arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court by a prosecutor, Inspector Philip Osijale, on three counts bordering on threat to life. The charges read:
“That you, Kingsley Orumo and Tobilola Fabunmi, between December 4 and 8, 2014, on Sinari Daranijo Street, Victoria Island, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; threat to life.”
“That you, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did threaten Mrs. Gloria Williams through a text message and a letter, demanding N500,000 from her or lose her life.”
“That you, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by demanding ransom of N500,000 from one Mrs. Gloria Williams which caused her panic.”
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. A.F.O. Potoku, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Potoku adjourned the case till January 6, 2015.