FBI, Ghana Police arrest two Nigerians over kidnapping of 80-year-old American woman

Two Nigerian nationals have been apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Ghana Police for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of an 80-year-old American woman.

The suspects, Emmanuel Adedoyin Adebayor, a 28-year-old trader, and Esther Ogbonna, a beautician, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court, while a third suspect, Dennis Poromo, remains at large.

Adebayor and Poromo face charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and theft, kidnapping, and theft, while Ogbonna has been charged with abetment. Both Adebayor and Ogbonna pleaded not guilty.

Court Grants Bail with Strict Conditions

Presided over by Judge Samuel Bright Acquah, the court granted bail to the two accused in the sum of GHC500,000 with two sureties. One surety must be a Nigerian from the Ghanaian Nigerian community, while the other must be a Ghanaian.

Additionally, the court ordered the accused to surrender their travel documents and report to the police twice a month. The case has been adjourned to March 5, 2025.

Kidnapping Orchestrated Through Online Deception

According to Prosecuting Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, the FBI at the U.S. Embassy in Accra reported the case on December 6, 2024, after learning that the victim, Diana Christine Nelson, had been kidnapped.

Investigations revealed that the victim arrived in Ghana on November 22, 2024, after being deceived online by Adebayor, who posed as a well-known American actor, Mark Hammond.

Ogbonna picked up Nelson from Kotoka International Airport and transported her to an apartment in East Legon Hills before relocating her to Tema Community 11, where she was held captive.

Rescue Operation and Arrests

Police intelligence led to the discovery of Nelson at a hotel in Larteh Akwapim on December 8, 2024. Three days later, Adebayor was caught attempting to withdraw money from the victim’s U.S. bank account using her ATM debit card.

Under interrogation, Adebayor led officers to an apartment in Tema Community 11, where Nelson was found traumatized and later taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Financial Exploitation and Ransom Demand

Investigations revealed that Adebayor and Poromo withdrew a total of $15,821.70 from Nelson’s bank account and demanded $150,000 in ransom from her family.

The accused confiscated her four mobile phones and bank cards, preventing her from communicating with anyone. The stolen phones, including an iPhone 12, Samsung Galaxy A15, and a Bru phone, were later sold at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.

Authorities recovered GHC7,000 from the phone sales and GHC4,000 from ATM withdrawals. However, the iPhone 12 remains missing.

The case is ongoing as law enforcement continues to search for the third suspect, Dennis Poromo.