Two people confessed to have masterminded the kidnapping of 83 years old
Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the mother of Nigeria Minister of Finance, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; who was kidnapped and released last December after
collecting the sum of N13m as ransom.
A former servant at the palace of the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku,
Delta State, where the 83 years old was kidnapped, gave out the
necessary information for the kidnapping. The suspect, Chiejine
Onochie, said, "I'm 32 years old and i worked in the palace
from 2007 to 2012 after which i left because the pay was too little. A
friend of mine approached me and told me that i could make a lot of
money if i gave kidnappers information on how to get into the palace.
However, after the operation, i did not get a dime. It was later that i
learnt that they had collected N13m as ransom. I felt cheated and i left
everything to God. I cannot be held for the crime because when the
police started arresting people, i went to report at the station
voluntarily, i was not dragged to the station."