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Wife exposes pastor Richard, who staged own kidnap to extort brother
…Suspect: I did it because I was in debt
According to a police source, on June 16, one Mr. Prosper, Onyekachukwu’s wealthy younger brother, reported to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba that his elder brother named Richard (Onyekachukwu) had been kidnapped and a line of conversation had been opened with his abductors who were asking for a ransom.
The source further disclosed that the IGP immediately directed the Commander of the FIB Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT), Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to investigate the matter, ensure the safe return of Onyekachukwu and fish out the culprits.
The IRT operatives swung into action by first visiting the house of the victim where they met his wife but were shocked that she looked unperturbed. And when the operatives introduced themselves as police officers investigating a case of armed robbery against her husband, she shouted that her husband was not an armed robber but only travelled to Taraba State on a business trip.
She told the police officers that although members of her husband’s family thought that he had been in captivity for three weeks, she last saw him about a week earlier.
On the basis of her claims, she was arrested and taken to the police station for interrogation, following which she opened up that it was a case of self-kidnap and the whole idea was from her husband.
She said her husband had financial challenges and was desperately looking for a way to repay the loans he had collected. She said her husband’s plan was to collect the ransom money and pay up his debt.
Following a clue from Mary that her husband was due to visit the house on June 18, the police laid an ambush and picked him up on the said date.
In his confession, Onyekachukwu, who described himself as a pastor and a contractor from Idemili South LGA, said he decided to organise his own kidnap in order to generate money with which he could solve a pressing financial problem.
He said: “I had a big church, Resurrection Power Church, but its roof was blown away by storm. I then took some loans to assist the businesses with which I was supporting the ministry and it was about N600,000.
Unfortunately, in the process, I had financial challenges and paying the loan became difficult. I made some losses in my poultry business and COVID-19 did not help matters. The banks were after me and I didn’t know what to do.
“I was thinking of how to get money from my younger brother, Prosper. He is a civil servant and also rich but stingy. I was thinking of how to get money from him to offset the bills before they would take me to court.
“It wasn’t easy; that was why the thoughts came to me. I don’t know why I decided to use that strategy.
“I called my friend Enoch and shared my thoughts with him. Enoch is also a pastor. Initially, he did not accept, but after sometime, he agreed. I told him that even it was a million or N500,000, I would be satisfied.
“Sometime in May, I travelled home to drop the corpse of my deceased mother at the mortuary. After that, I travelled to Nkpor, close to my village, to see if I could get some contracts.
“I was supposed to come back after a week. I called my wife and brothers about my mission at the village. There was three days delay and my wife was panicking because my phones were off. She called my brothers that I am missing.
“When I came back, I sneaked into the compound, dropped my bag and went to the mountain to pray. I called Enoch that we had an opportunity. He then called and told them that I had been kidnapped.
“I used to come back home, but most times I would sleep in my friend’s place. I told my wife after a week. She started suspecting my movements and I told her the things on the ground and that I didn’t know what to do. I needed to get money from Prosper before the bank people would come to embarrass us.
“I am the second son of my parents, and as an elder, I am expected to play a major role in my mother’s burial. We had a meeting and fixed a date and everyone was running around to see how to raise money to contribute.”
On why he requested that his brother, Prosper, must bring the ransom personally, Richard said: “I have no particular reason to request that my brother, Prosper, should bring the money. I never even thought of that as an issue. This is something I thought would just end within the family. My plan was to inform him after some time.
“On the ransom, I demanded N10 million and they bargained to N5 million, and finally, they brought N2 million. We were still waiting to hear from him when police arrested me at home.
“I am not happy. It is a regrettable action. I took it as a family issue I did not know it would get to this extent. I simply tell him that the reason is that if I had asked him for money to settle my debt, he would not do it. I am close to my brother, so I expected that he would bring the money to save my life.”
Mary, in her own statement, who described herself as a petty trader, said her husband told her that he would be embarking on a business trip on May 20.
“After some days, we could not reach him again. He did not come back the day he said he would return. I called his brothers and explained to them and they said I should relax, that he would come. It took about three days before someone called that my husband had been kidnapped and they were demanding N10 million.
“After a week, he came back and I was happy that he had been released, but he told me to shut up, that he would explain. He then asked me if I had plans to pay up our debts.
“He said since everyone believed that he had been kidnapped, I should not say anything till money was paid. He told me that I had started demonstrating my stubbornness when a woman was supposed to be submissive to her husband no matter the case.
“I was both confused and scared. The night they came to arrest me, I called the uncle and raised the alarm. The next day, they arrested me.
I met him as a pastor and I was taught to be submissive. I was just being submissive. It is not about love but obeying the word of God. I don’t have any word to justify myself. I am finding it difficult to forgive myself.
In his own confession, Enoch, a native of Awgu, Enugu State, said: “I am the founder of Christ Resurrection Power, Gospel Church of All Nations. I have no other job except evangelism. I started the church two years before the COVID-19 shutdown.
“My members dispersed and I was not able to raise money to pay rent so I shut down the church. Reverend Richard (Onyekachukwu) is my neighbour and brother in the Lord. He came to me and told me about his money challenge.
“He is owing some microfinance banks, the landlord was at his neck and he needed to contribute money for his mother’s burial. He does not have money to contribute as an elder brother.
“He said that he needed my assistance. I asked in what area and he said that he wanted to have himself kidnapped. He did not have anywhere to get the money from. His brothers do not like to give him money. He wanted to use this pattern to get money from his brother so I agreed to help him.
“He wrote a script and gave it to me, which I acted properly, including pretending to beat him up. We normally went close to the mountain and called them from there.
“We didn’t have any sharing formula until the money would come. I wanted to use it to go down to the east for evangelism.
“To survive, I used to go for outreach programmes and people will sow seeds and give offerings.
I knew that it was wrong when we got to the police station. The Bible says that deceit is a sin. I don’t know which devil entered my mind.
“I got a calling as far back as 2002 and I served under a church till 2015 when I was officially released. We opened an outreach but the church was officially opened in 2003.
Nigeria’s quest to secure a Category ‘C’ seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026/2027 biennium received a major boost today as the Government of Switzerland formally pledged its support.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, received the letter of endorsement during a courtesy visit by the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Patrick Felix Egloff, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Expressing his delight, Oyetola described the Swiss government’s backing as “a significant milestone in Nigeria’s campaign and a strong testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to upholding international maritime standards.”
According to the Minister, Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council would further strengthen global efforts towards building “a more robust, safe, and sustainable maritime industry.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s maritime potential, Oyetola disclosed that the country boasts 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone and an extended continental shelf of 16,300km, positioning it as a strategic maritime nation.
“With these vast endowments, Nigeria, by any standard, is a maritime nation. That’s why the Ministry, in collaboration with the World Bank, AU-IBAR, the Kingdom of Norway, and other stakeholders, has developed a comprehensive National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy capable of standing the test of time,” he stated.
Oyetola further revealed that the Federal Government is adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to drive rapid investments in the maritime sector. These include inland waterways development, supply of boats, dredging, and navigation infrastructure.
On maritime security, the Minister emphasized the success of the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria’s state-of-the-art surveillance initiative:
“For the past three years, there has been zero piracy in our waters, and we’re committed to sustaining this achievement. We’re also working with other Gulf of Guinea countries to extend safety and security beyond our national waters.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Egloff noted that Switzerland’s decision to endorse Nigeria followed an earlier request from the Ministry in April 2025.
“I’m very glad to convey this letter of support. Switzerland is very happy to stand with Nigeria. You’re a strong candidate, and we appreciate your commitment to multilateralism and the maritime sector. Nigeria plays a very important role globally,” he affirmed.
With Switzerland’s endorsement, Nigeria’s campaign for the IMO Category ‘C’ Council seat gains further international momentum ahead of the elections slated for October/November 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja around 1:20am on Thursday after concluding a three-day state visit to Brazil that yielded a raft of bilateral agreements and high-level engagements aimed at deepening Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic ties with South America’s largest economy.
The President, who arrived aboard the presidential jet, was received at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by a high-powered delegation of political leaders and senior government officials.
Among those present were Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara).
Also on hand to welcome the President were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and some Ministers, including Nyesom Wike (FCT); Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning) and Bello Matawalle (Defence, State).
President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil was marked by the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering aviation, trade, science, diplomacy, and finance.
At a joint press conference in Brasília, he welcomed the imminent return of Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil giant, to Nigeria—five years after it halted its joint ventures.
“We have the largest gas repository. So I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done,” he said.
The agreements also included a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, paving the way for direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, to be operated by Air Peace.
Other MoUs targeted political consultations, scientific collaboration, and agricultural financing through Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development.
Beyond the MoUs, President Tinubu underscored his administration’s economic reforms, assuring Brazilian investors of a stable, transparent financial climate.
He cited Nigeria’s capital market growth as evidence of renewed investor confidence and pledged continued reforms to “unlock capital, protect investors, and drive innovation.”
In a meeting with Nigerians in Brazil, Tinubu called on the diaspora to contribute actively to nation-building, pledging technology-driven development and food security as the pillars of a prosperous future.
“We must bring Nigeria to the forefront of Africa’s progress, driven by technology, food sovereignty, and the courage to change our destiny,” he told the gathering.
The visit, which featured red-carpet honours, bilateral meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and cultural engagements, signalled what both leaders described as a new era in Nigeria–Brazil relations.
Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil was preceded by his participation at the recently concluded ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
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Symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation, Air Peace clearance, Oil giant Petrobras return is key gain of Tinubu’s Brazil visit, Says Onanuga
……Air Peace clearance for Lagos-Sao Paulo direct flights excites President
The return of Brazil’s oil giant, Petrobras, to Nigeria’s upstream is a major breakthrough recorded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two-day state visit to the largest economy in South America, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said yesterday.
Besides, Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, was given the right to commence Lagos-Sao Paulo flights to underscore the renewed economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
Sao Paulo is Brazil’s economic powerhouse and largest city.
Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, said the airline would deploy a Boeing 777 from its fleet to service the route.
A symbolic flight was planned for last night.
These agreements are part of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by the two countries during the President’s third visit to Brazil in less than one year.
His two earlier visits were on invitations extended to Nigeria by G-20 and BRICS.
“Air Peace is now cleared to run flights between Lagos and Sao Paulo”, Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, declared to the excitement of President Tinubu at a joint news conference at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília to round off the visit.
According to Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the resumption of Petrobras’ operations five years after it halted joint ventures in Nigeria, would reignite economic cooperation in the energy sector.
“We have the largest gas repository. So, I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done as soon as possible,” Tinubu said.
The President praised his Brazilian counterpart for committing to revitalising the partnership between the two nations.
“Nigeria’s economic space remains a virgin land, full of opportunities for Brazilian companies,” Tinubu said, while acknowledging Embraer’s role in boosting local airline operations through plans for a service centre in Nigeria to support maintenance and repairs.
Reflecting on his past engagements in Brazil, Tinubu urged a shift from symbolic gestures to tangible cooperation.
“Honourable Ministers of both countries, members of the Brazil Business Group, I have listened carefully to my friend, President Lula. We had a lengthy discussion. We talked about history and about African and Brazilian heritage.
“We tried to see why we are not at the level we wanted. We have allowed some problems and activities in the past to deter us from making progress and fulfilling our promises. But today, we say that is the end of that,” he said.
Tinubu stressed Nigeria’s readiness to partner Brazil in technology transfer, food security, renewable energy, and manufacturing.
“Today, we are fighting and working hard to bring our sovereignty to the level of expectation that we, as a nation, the most populous, the most dynamic country, share with Brazil. We need to share—technology transfer, energy, economy — so Brazil can continue to widen opportunities for us to embrace Africa. Africa is the new frontier,” he said.
The President also called for knowledge sharing in pharmaceuticals, saying “we have elevated this promise to the path of reality, as you have seen in various MOUs. I don’t know why the manufacturing of generic drugs, which Brazil has done deeply and far, cannot be in Nigeria.
“I don’t see why the technological superiority of Brazil is not shared with Africa. We assured each other that only we can develop our economies to help our sovereignty”, President Tinubu said.
Highlighting the reforms at home, Tinubu assured Brazilian investors of a new era in Nigeria’s economy.
“The reforms I’ve embarked upon since I took over in Nigeria have been very impactful. It was initially painful, but today the result is blossoming. It’s getting clearer to the people. We have more money for the economy, and there will be no more corruption.
“We have the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria here. You don’t have to know him before getting the foreign exchange you need. The speculators are out. In our currency market, the door is open for businesses,” he said.
President Lula described the renewed Brazil–Nigeria engagement as timely in an era of rising protectionism.
“At a time when protectionism and unilateralism have returned, Nigeria and Brazil reaffirm their bet on free trade and productive integration. We continue to be dedicated to building a world of peace, free from hegemonic impositions.
“There are many possibilities for synergy between the world’s two largest countries with black populations. Agriculture and livestock, oil and gas, fertilisers, aircraft, and machinery, among others, represent wide avenues for cooperation.
“Increasing direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos and São Paulo,” he said.
The following MoUs were signed between the two countries:
*Bilateral Air Services Agreement by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos.
*Diplomatic Training Cooperation and MoU on political consultations were signed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Brazilian counterpart, Ambassador Mauro Vieira.
Nnaji, and Brazil’s Luciana Santos.
*The Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, and Brazil’s Minister for National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aluísio Mercadante, signed an MOU for cooperation on trade and investment promotion, harmonising efforts to expand agricultural financing, investment, and joint projects.
Nigeria is currently Brazil’s 49th largest export destination, with trade between both countries reaching $2.1 billion in 2024.
Following the agreements, President Tinubu attended a state luncheon, hosted at the Itamaraty Palace.
Mohammed Idris: BASA to deepen ties
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed between Nigeria and Brazil as a significant breakthrough that will reconnect the two countries economically, socially, and culturally.
He described BASA as representing more than aviation.
“The 350 years of slavery between Africa and Brazil is being looked at again by the two leaders. And one way of looking at it is to ensure there is now a reconnection – economic, financial, social, cultural, whichever sphere. I think this is the best way to really go past what has happened during the period of slavery,” the minister said.
He noted that President Tinubu’s fourth meeting with President Lula in just over a year underscored the growing partnership between the two nations, which he said would also benefit Africa.
The minister said immediate “quick wins” from the agreement were already being realised, with a symbolic flight planned from Brazil to Abuja at midnight on Tuesday.
He noted that the direct link would reduce travel time between the two countries from more than 24 hours through European routes to about seven hours.
“Once this becomes commercially viable, it will not just enhance trade between the two countries, it will also improve the cultural and social cooperation that already exists,” he added.
Onyema, who described the BASA agreement as “a milestone,” said: “We cannot start daily flights for now, but we want to start with three weekly flights. As we go on, we develop the route and we’re going to increase the frequency. We told the Brazilians that we want to do Lagos, Rio, São Paulo and back to Lagos”.
The Air Peace chief emphasised that aviation would serve as a catalyst for unlocking the economic potential of both nations.
“The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America. The Nigerian economy is one of the largest in Africa. They need to tap into this. But without aviation, it’s very, very difficult for some of these things to be actualised,” Onyema said.
Boeing 777 for route
Speaking in an interview, Onyema said: “Nigerian aviation is grateful to President Tinubu for all he has been doing for the industry.
Air Peace has had long relation with Brazil as the biggest customer to Brazillian airplane maker, Embraer.
Air Peace signed a firm order for 13 Embraer E195-E2 jets in 2019, with the delivery of the first aircraft in early 2021. This was part of a larger agreement that included purchase rights for 17 additional aircraft of the same type, bringing the total potential order to 30 jets. The airline is the first African carrier to operate this new generation of Embraer aircraft.
Besides buying aeroplanes, Air Peace is fine-tuning strategies for the setting up of an aircraft maintenance facility in Nigeria.
Embraer, a few years ago, unveiled plans to establish an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility in Nigeria, in partnership with Air Peace. This initiative is part of a broader maintenance deal with the Nigerian airline to provide local maintenance support for its growing fleet of Embraer aircraft, aiming to conserve foreign exchange for airlines and create jobs in Nigeria.
As one of Nigeria’s biggest flag carriers , Air Peace is designated on Lagos/ London, Dubai, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, China, Mumbai, Antigua and Barbuda,
Air Peace serves 20 major cities in Nigeria and many regional destinations throughout West Africa (Accra, Dakar, Douala Freetown, Banjul, and Monrovia.
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., better known by and trading as the portmanteau Petrobras, is a Brazilian majority state-owned multinational corporation in the petroleum industry headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. The company’s name translates to Brazilian Petroleum Corporation — Petrobras.
Petrobras began operations in Nigeria in 1998 in the deep waters off the Niger Delta. It sold its stakes more than 10 years ago to raise cash for domestic projects. Since then, Nigeria has been working to address some of the problems that have limited oil and gas output.
Petrobras stopped business in Nigeria five years ago.
The company was ranked #71 in the 2023 Fortune Global 500 list. In the 2023 Forbes Global 2000, Petrobras was ranked as the 58th-largest public company in the world.
Petrobras was created in 1953 under the government of Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas with the slogan “The Oil is Ours”. It was given a legal monopoly in Brazil.
In 2000, Petrobras set a world record for oil exploration in deep waters, reaching a depth of 1,877 metres (6,158 ft) below sea level. In 2002, Petrobras acquired the Argentine company Perez Companc Energía (PECOM Energía S.A.) from the Perez Companc Family Group and its family foundation for $1.18 billion.
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