How UNILAG students robbed popular musician, Mr 2Kay of N11m

*Police ask musician, Burna Boy, to clear self of armed robbery charge

The suspects

The Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, revealed that three students of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, were part of a four-man gang of robbers that robbed a musician, Abiye David Jumbo, otherwise known as Mr 2Kay.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, identified the three students as Omotore Tunmise (27), Obina Igwe (20) and Balogun Adewale (23).

According to the CP, on October 22, after a show organised by Buckwld Media Network Limited, Mr 2Kay, who lodged at Eko Hotel and Suites, had returned to his room, 847, 8th floor, after his performance to rest. He had barely changed his outfit when he heard a knock on his door.

The person at the door said that he came in response to a call for room service.

When Mr 2Kay opened the door, four young men forced their way into the room, dispossessed him of valuables worth N11million and tied him and his girlfriend up.

During police investigation, detectives carried out thorough check on all the Close Circuit Televisions (CCTV) in the hotel.

It was gathered that through the CCTV, a girlfriend of one of the suspects was arrested. She would later be used as bait to catch others.

When the suspects realised that the game was up, they allegedly confessed that Damini Ogiulu aka Burna Boy contracted them to beat up Mr 2Kay without giving them reasons.

According to the suspects, Burna Boy paid them N50, 000 upfront and paid another N50, 000 after the victim had been beaten black and blue.     

Imohimi said investigation commenced into the incident after the case was reported. He said that the police tracked down the suspects through the footages of the CCTV at the hotel.
Imohimi said: “Burna Boy paid the gang N100, 000 to teach Mr 2Kay a lesson.   At about 2 a.m., someone knocked on the door of Mr 2Kay’s room, saying he was from reception, responding to room service. The musician opened the door and four armed men entered. They robbed him of his Audemais Piquet, automatic gold wristwatch valued at $25,000; gold jewellery valued at N1.5m; an iPhone 7, valued at N380,000, a Samsung Galaxy S7 valued at N240,000, Samsung Galaxy S5 worth N110,000; Addidas shoes valued at N75,000; three bottles of perfume worth N180,000 and a cash sum of N45,000. The gang then tied him and his girlfriend up and left the room.

“During investigations, the girlfriend of one of the gang members, Nimota Mutajero was arrested. Her confession led to the arrest of the three students. They said Burna Boy, an artiste, through his road manager, one Joel Kantiock, contacted and paid them to rob Mr. 2Kay in order to teach him a lesson. Kantiock was subsequently picked up in his hideout at Zaria, Kaduna State and confessed that his boss, Burna Boy, instructed him to look for armed men that could rob Mr. 2Kay. Burna Boy mobilised the gang with an initial cash sum of N50, 000 and a subsequent sum of N50, 000 after the job was completed. I advise Burna Boy to report himself at the nearest police station since all effort to locate him at his residence at 7, Cheview Estate, Lekki or known hangouts has proved abortive.”    
Kantiock, however, denied that Burna Boy directed him to arrange for the gang to attack Mr. 2Kay. He said that he was not aware of any disagreement between the two musicians.
The alleged leader of the three students, Omotore said: “ Kantiock invited us to deal with Mr. 2Kay on the order of his boss. On that day, I was at home when Joel (Kantiock) called me on telephone and said Mr. 2Kay had to be beaten up. He said Mr. 2Kay had issues with Burna Boy. On getting to the hotel, he gave me the room number where Mr. 2Kay was, led me and three others, including one Sunny, to the elevator and told a security man to open the elevator for us.
“We posed as room service officials, entered his room and beat him up. We tied him up and collected his phones, wristwatch and some other things. I was paid N50, 000.”  

Another suspect, Igwe, 20, denied carting away with the victim’s valuables, but admitted to tying him up.
Igwe said: “My friend, Tunmise (Omotore), contacted me on the telephone. He said Burna Boy told his road manager that he was having a misunderstanding with Mr. 2Kay. I’m a fan of Burna Boy, so I decided to volunteer myself. Tunmise came to pick me at Bariga and we went to the hotel.”