The family of kidnapped Anambra billionaire businessman and Jezco Group chairman, Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, has reportedly been thrown into further turmoil following explosive allegations by his eldest daughter, Blessing Ezeokafor, against her younger brother, socialite Eberechukwu Ezeokafor, popularly known as Jowizaza.
The development came after the kidnappers reportedly increased their ransom demand from ₦700 million to ₦1.5 billion for the release of the 72-year-old businessman.
Ezeokafor was reportedly abducted in Anambra State after leaving his residence in the early hours of Tuesday for a prayer ground at Ifite Awka. According to reports, he had gone out for what was described as his annual spiritual rejuvenation when he was kidnapped.
The businessman has reportedly spent about 10 nights in captivity, with concerns mounting over his health and wellbeing.
Reports on Thursday said the abductors initially demanded ₦700 million from the family. The family was reportedly willing to negotiate the demand, but the kidnappers subsequently increased it to ₦1.5 billion and were said to have stopped further communication with the family.
Amid the ransom crisis, Blessing Ezeokafor, who is said to be the businessman’s first child and an alumnus of Madonna University, took to Facebook to make a series of allegations against her younger brother, Jowizaza.
Blessing accused her brother of creating an exaggerated impression of the family’s wealth through his lavish lifestyle and social media activities.
According to her, the family was not as financially buoyant as Jowizaza allegedly portrayed online, describing the money and wealth displayed by her brother as “audio money.”
She alleged that Jowizaza’s public display of wealth had caused people to believe that the family had enormous financial resources, thereby allegedly making their father a target.
Blessing further alleged that her father was a private and humble man whose major concern was his faith and service to God, and that he did not need the level of exposure allegedly generated by his son’s social media lifestyle.
She also made serious allegations about the financial condition of the family business, claiming that Jezco Group was facing substantial debts and financial difficulties.
Among her claims was an allegation that the company owed FCMB about ₦40 billion, while also alleging indebtedness to Union Bank.
She further claimed that Jowizaza had previously been removed as a director of the company by their father and was subsequently placed on a monthly salary of ₦1 million.
Blessing also questioned how her brother could raise the reported ₦700 million ransom allegedly demanded initially by the kidnappers if, according to her, he did not have substantial liquid funds.
“Why Jowizaza my brother? You are the cause of this madness. Social media noise, when we don’t have that money. You use audio money to make hoodlums think the money is available,” she wrote in one of the posts attributed to her.
She further alleged that the family was heavily indebted and questioned why her brother would continue to project an image of extreme wealth on social media.
“Fake life claiming what we don’t have,” she reportedly wrote, adding that the family was allegedly owing FCMB and Union Bank.
In another emotional appeal directed at the kidnappers, Blessing reportedly pleaded with them to release her father, insisting that the family did not have the enormous wealth they might believe was available.
“Kidnappers they don’t have money, it is audio money, please leave my dad alone. Please release him, they are swimming in debt,” she reportedly said.
She also defended her decision to speak publicly despite criticism from people who believed that revealing the family’s financial situation could complicate negotiations with the kidnappers.
According to her, remaining silent could give the abductors the impression that the family had unlimited financial resources and was deliberately refusing to pay.
“At this point I need to talk so they can be talking reasonable of what we can provide. Dad needs his medication and I don’t want anything to happen to my dad,” she reportedly wrote.
Blessing also warned bloggers against exaggerating the family’s wealth.
“See coming to Facebook was the biggest mistake my brother made. We have simple life not exaggerating wealth,” she reportedly said.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and there has been no public confirmation from Jowizaza or the management of Jezco Group addressing the claims.
Similarly, the reported ₦40 billion FCMB debt, the alleged Union Bank indebtedness, the claim that Jowizaza was removed as a director, and the other financial allegations remain claims made by Blessing and should not be treated as established facts without independent confirmation.
The reported kidnapping and ransom demand, however, have generated increasing concern, with reports indicating that the abductors have raised their demand from ₦700 million to ₦1.5 billion.
The Anambra State Police Command had reportedly not issued a detailed public statement on the case as of the latest reports.
Chief Joseph Ezeokafor is a prominent Anambra-born businessman and founder of Jezco Group. His family has previously attracted public attention because of the lavish lifestyle associated with his son, Jowizaza, who has long been known on social media for displaying luxury cars, expensive travels and other symbols of wealth.
The current crisis has therefore brought renewed attention to the distinction between the family’s publicly projected image of wealth and the financial picture alleged by Blessing.
For now, the overriding concern remains the safe release of the 72-year-old businessman.
His daughter has appealed to the kidnappers to spare his life, stressing that he is elderly and requires his medication.
The family is reportedly still seeking a way to secure his release as uncertainty continues over the kidnappers’ latest demand of ₦1.5 billion.
