Breaking News: Kidnap Victim Sues Transport Company for N13m After Paying N5m Ransom

Abuja, Nigeria – A kidnap victim, Akponye Alphonsus, has filed a lawsuit against a private bus company, alleging negligence that led to his abduction.

According to Alphonsus, on March 31, 2024, he was at the bus company’s park in Abuja, where he purchased a ticket for an 8 am bus scheduled to arrive at his destination by 5 pm. However, the bus did not depart until after 10 am.

In his legal claim, Alphonsus asserted that the company used a poorly maintained vehicle for the trip. Shortly after starting the journey, the vehicle experienced a tire issue, causing a delay to replace it with a faulty spare tire.

Alphonsus stated that the spare tire burst on the highway, causing the driver to lose control and nearly resulting in a serious accident. It took the driver almost four hours to fix the tire due to a lack of proper tools, during which time Alphonsus and other passengers were kidnapped by criminals who exploited the situation.

He reported being held by the kidnappers for three days until his family managed to raise N5 million for his release. The ordeal traumatized him, exacerbating his health problems and requiring hospitalization.

Through his lawyer, Ikechukwu Uzuegbu, Alphonsus is demanding N13 million from the transport company, including N10 million for general damages and N3 million for legal fees.