Policemen attached to the Festac Police Division in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, have arrested a 20-year-old man, identified as Amaechi, who posed as a hired assassin in a bid to swindle his employer of N2 million.
The suspect informed his expatriate employer, Kelvin Cheng, last Thursday that he had been paid to eliminate him, assuring him that he would spare his life only if he could pay him the money.
The suspect subsequently warned the fear-stricken boss not to disclose the conversation to the police or any other person, threatening to kill him if he did.
He reportedly wrote a letter to his boss restating his claim. The letter read: "Dear Mr. Man, listen and listen very well, I know you too well. You have a company. I have been following you around and I know all your movements. I have been hired to kill you. But, it is of no use. All I want is N2 million only or your life will be cut short.
"Even inside your company, you are not safe. I kill whoever I want to kill anywhere. So, read my lips very well; number 1. No police or I will surely kill you. 2. I will call you and tell you where to bring the money. 3. Don't, I repeat, call anybody! Remember, I know your call and movement. That is all for now."
We heard that a date was agreed on when and where his boss would drop the amount. But, during the conversation, the boss never envisaged his employee was behind the whole plot.
On the agreed date, at about 2.30 p.m (last Friday), the expatriate reportedly went to Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Layout with a cellophane bag presumed to contain the amount and dropped it where he was instructed to and left.
Amaechi reportedly came out from nowhere to immediately pick the bag. But, unknown to him, the boss had informed policemen from Festac and the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Mohammed Muazu, deployed some policemen to the point of collection and he was arrested.
Although the suspect expressed regret over his action, to the amazement of all, he declared that he was ready to die for the offence, saying his boss did not deserve what he did to him.
"My boss is nice. I am one of his favourite employees. I have been working for him for a while and I am paid N15,000 monthly. I am also among those he gave accommodation on the company's premises. I regret my action. I have been trying to call him and beg for forgiveness.
"All I want is for him to tell me he has forgiven me, then I will be at rest to face the legal consequences of my offence. Honestly, this is the handiwork of the devil because I really did not know what I would have done with the money had I succeeded," he begged.