The
Nigerian-born United States-based reggae star, Victor Essiet, is now in
the custody of the police in Lagos over an alleged N16 million fraud.
Essiet, who ruled the music scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s with his late wife, Peggy Umanah, better known as the Mandators, was arrested on Saturday by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos.
He was picked up at the National Stadium, Surulere, during a concert with other reggae artists in Nigeria.
A police source said that Essiet was arrested after the police received a complaint from a petitioner who alleged that he gave Essiet N16 million two years ago to buy some trucks overseas. According to the complainant, Essiet bought and sent only one truck and since then had not returned to Nigeria.
“The suspect just came into Nigeria to put up a show, which he said was to revive reggae in Nigeria. The show was taking place on that Saturday, when police went there to arrest him. Other reggae stars were there when he was whisked away,” the source said.
Essiet was said to have begged the policemen to allow him finish the show that he would come to the station himself. He explained to them that he had pumped a lot of money into the show and also borrowed money to make it a success.
He said that not finishing the show means earning a lot of debt and also short-changing reggae lovers who paid to come and watch the show. But his pleas fell on deaf ears. After a long sojourn in the United States, Essiet came to Nigeria with a reggae festival tagged: “Africa Meets Reggae.”
In attendance on Saturday night were top reggae stars like Orits Wiliki, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, among other musicians. Fielding questions from the police, Essiet had denied knowing the complaint, adding that his current trouble might be traced to a politician who wanted to destroy his show. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed Essiet’s arrest.
He said: “I can confirm to you that the reggae star, Victor Essiet, the Mandators, was arrested. He was arrested in connection with a case of fraud. Investigation is still on going to know his culpability in the case.”
Essiet, who ruled the music scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s with his late wife, Peggy Umanah, better known as the Mandators, was arrested on Saturday by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos.
He was picked up at the National Stadium, Surulere, during a concert with other reggae artists in Nigeria.
A police source said that Essiet was arrested after the police received a complaint from a petitioner who alleged that he gave Essiet N16 million two years ago to buy some trucks overseas. According to the complainant, Essiet bought and sent only one truck and since then had not returned to Nigeria.
“The suspect just came into Nigeria to put up a show, which he said was to revive reggae in Nigeria. The show was taking place on that Saturday, when police went there to arrest him. Other reggae stars were there when he was whisked away,” the source said.
Essiet was said to have begged the policemen to allow him finish the show that he would come to the station himself. He explained to them that he had pumped a lot of money into the show and also borrowed money to make it a success.
He said that not finishing the show means earning a lot of debt and also short-changing reggae lovers who paid to come and watch the show. But his pleas fell on deaf ears. After a long sojourn in the United States, Essiet came to Nigeria with a reggae festival tagged: “Africa Meets Reggae.”
In attendance on Saturday night were top reggae stars like Orits Wiliki, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, among other musicians. Fielding questions from the police, Essiet had denied knowing the complaint, adding that his current trouble might be traced to a politician who wanted to destroy his show. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed Essiet’s arrest.
He said: “I can confirm to you that the reggae star, Victor Essiet, the Mandators, was arrested. He was arrested in connection with a case of fraud. Investigation is still on going to know his culpability in the case.”
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