A 44-year-old businessman, Amarah Kennedy, who went into hiding after sending nude photos of his ex-lovers to various WhatsApp groups has said he will meet the police after journalists stops reporting the matter.
The Daily Vendor had reported that Kennedy secretly took nude photos of a widow and another single mothers whom he previously had sexual relationships with, and went on to circulate them on various social media platforms including a church WhatsApp group.
The Lagos-based trader also noted that he was ready to make peace with his victims but needed assurance that the police would stay out of the case.
The women, identified simply as Kester and Temi, met Kennedy on social media platform for singles at different times and fell in love with him after he promised them marriage and showered their kids with gifts.
However, after disagreements, he shared their nude photos with them and demanded money with threats to make the images go viral.
Despite collecting N140,000 from Kester, a widow, and N15,000 from Temi, he posted the images on Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
After the news was published, he became livid and swore to damage the women’s reputation further.
He subsequently published Kester’s nudes on her church’s WhatsApp group and office social media pages.
He also shared the photos with her late husband’s family members.
In a chat seen by a reporter, he wrote, “Her (Kester) pictures are there. At Redeem parish WhatsApp group platform. I am all over the news, she also will be all over the news. By the time I am done, suicide will be her only option.”
Kester told our correspondent on Wednesday the suspect had started “sending my nudes all over Instagram and Twitter to random people, those that know me are calling me.”
But Kennedy, while speaking to a Punch reporter on WhatsApp, said he had stopped spreading the photos.
Kennedy went further to beg the reporter to stop publishing stories on the matter “You need to stop writing about me. I saw the story this morning (Wednesday) and I was wondering where all those information came from, unfortunately now whatever I say will be my word against theirs.
“I am not asking you to stop writing; I am saying the stories you write daily about me, can you stop. Let me find a way to resolve all these.
“I want to settle this issue out of the police. I am ready to do anything to make peace, but I want this issue resolved outside of the police.”
He however promised to be at the state Police command headquarters on Friday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, confirmed an earlier report by our correspondent that Owohunwa met with Kester on Tuesday.
According to him, the CP, while assuring the victim of justice, directed the Police Medical Services to provide her with adequate psychosocial support.
“The suspect, Amarah Kennedy, is advised to submit himself to prove his innocence as failure to do so will result in deploying all law enforcement machinery available to secure his apprehension and prosecution accordingly,” he added.
Hundeyin said a policeman attached to the Pen Cinema Police Division, Inspector Raphael Edeifo, who was accused of demanding money to take up the case, had been handed over to the Provost for investigation and an orderly room trial.
He noted that the CP gave firm assurances that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure that “the long arm of the law catches up with the suspect.”
Kester confirmed meeting with the police medical team on Wednesday.
She said she got psychological support and counselling.
“They also asked me to distract myself to avoid any suicidal thoughts. I find it difficult to eat because of the incident; I was given some drugs to enable me to sleep well,” she added.
The second victim, Temi, said she was also awaiting a police invitation.
She said, “Some of the people he sent my nudes to have called me. They are mostly social media friends. Kester has met the police, but I have not been invited yet.”
