Former SGF confirms payment of ransom for his release

                                                     
Former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Olu Falae has confirmed that a ransom was paid to secure his release from the hand of kidnappers.

A family source had earlier accused the Nigerian police of lying about their purported rescue of Falae from his abductors.

Falae made the confirmation on Monday, September 28, 2015, adding that the kidnappers only freed him after they received payment.
He said further that he walked for 15 kilometres before he was picked up by the police in Owo, several kilometres from Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, Wole Ogodo and Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole had all said that no ransom was paid to secure Falae’s release.

Kolawole had said on Thursday, September 24, 2015, that the former SGF was rescued after the Force launched aerial and land operations in search of the kidnappers.

“The operation which started in the early hours of the aforementioned date, combed every nook and cranny of Ondo state till success was achieved in Owo,” she said.

Falae regained his freedom on September 24 after being abducted on Monday, 21.

Arase had attributed the rescue to a directive given to the police by President Muhammadu Buhari to get the former SGF home safe.

Falae’s kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of N100 million which they later reduced to N90 million.

It is however not yet clear how much was eventually paid to the kidnappers.