A 25 years old pregnant housewife, Jamila Ardo is currently at the Yola Correctional Centre for allegedly staging her own kidnap and collecting N2.076 million as ransom from her Facebook lover.
The suspect was arraigned before chief magistrate court I in Yola on Thursday, February 24, for the offence of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping contrary to sections 60 and 248 of penal code law, Jamila however, pleaded not guilty.
The suspect who lives in Wauru Jabbe area in the state capital was said to have connived with one Abdulaziz and stage-managed her kidnapping in order to collect the sum of N2.076 million as ransom from her lover, Adamu Ahmed, who is based in Abuja.
According to the police, the accused and Mallam Adamu were said to have started their amorous relationship via social media (Facebook) and were planning on how to get married unknown to Adamu that Jamila is a married woman. It was learnt that the online lovers were yet to meet physically but the relationship waxed stronger until the bubble finally burst.
She was said to have connived with Abdulaziz and put a call to Mallam Adamu where they informed him that she has been kidnapped. During negotiation, Adamu, was said to have heard Jamila crying and pleading with him on phone to pay the ransom so that she will regain her freedom.
Being a man who is deeply inlove with Jamila, Adamu immediately deposited into a bank account number bearing Amina Mohammed.
After sending the money, Adamu was informed by his lover that the kidnappers had released her. He became suspicious and then he filed a complaint through a letter to the SIB dated November 16 2021.
The letter was filed through his counsel and subsequently endorsed by Adamawa State Commissioner of Police. In his letter, Adamu narrated how Jamila conspired with Abdulaziz, kidnapped herself and collected the money from him as ransom.
Police investigation led to the arrest of Amina Mohammed who confessed that it was her friend known as Jamila who requested her account number so that somebody will send in money for her.
After her plea, the prosecutor, Inspector Abubakar Nurudeen, prayed magistrate Abdullahi Mohammed Digil, adjourn the matter to enable the prosecution to forward the case file to DPP for legal advice.
Counsel to the defendant, C Crowealth pleaded with the court to allow his client to have access to a medical facility considering her condition and also asked the court to order the prosecution to avail them with all necessary documents to enable them to prepare for their defence.
The case was adjourned to March 10 2022, while the suspect was ordered to be remand in the Correctional Centre in Yola.