Accra: Two Nigerians have been apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and local police for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of an 80-year-old American woman. The accused are 28-year-old trader Emmanuel Adedoyin Adebayor and beautician Esther Ogbonna, while a third suspect, Dennis Poromo, remains at large.
According to Ghana News Agency, Adebayor and Poromo are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime related to kidnapping and stealing, while Esther Ogbonna faces an abetment charge. Both Adebayor and Esther have pleaded not guilty in their appearance before an Accra Circuit Court. Presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, the court has granted bail to the accused in the sum of GHC500,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be from the Nigerian community in Ghana and the other a Ghanaian. The accused are required to surrender their travel documents and report to the police bi-monthly. The next hearing is scheduled for March 5, 2025.
Prosecuting Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, representing Superintendent of Police Augustine Yirenkyi, stated that on December 6, 2024, the FBI agents at the American Embassy in Accra reported the kidnapping of Diana Christine Nelson, a U.S. citizen, to the local police. The 80-year-old victim had arrived in Ghana on November 22, 2024. Following investigations, police discovered the victim and one of the accused at a hotel in Larteh Akwapim on December 8, 2024.
Adebayor was arrested on December 11, 2024, after attempting to withdraw funds from the victim's account using her U.S. ATM card. He subsequently led the police to a location in Tema Community 11 where the victim was held. The victim, found traumatized, received medical attention.
Investigations revealed that Adebayor impersonated a well-known U.S. actor, Mark Hammond, to lure the victim to Ghana. Esther collected the victim from Kotoka International Airport and initially housed her in East Legon Hills before relocating her to Tema Community 11. Throughout the victim's stay, Esther provided her care.
The court was informed that the victim's phones and bank cards were confiscated, and she was warned against sharing information with anyone. Prosecution revealed that Adebayor and Poromo withdrew $15,821.70 from the victim's account using her visa card and demanded a $150,000 ransom from her family.
Prosecutor further disclosed that the victim's mobile phones and bank cards were retrieved from the accused, who sold them at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra. Cash amounting to GHC7,000 and GHC4,000, proceeds from the sale of the phones and ATM withdrawals respectively, were recovered from Adebayor. However, the victim's iPhone 12 remains missing.