The kidnappers of the chairman of the Jezco Group, Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, have reportedly raised his ransom from N700 million to N1.5 billion.
The Anambra billionaire was without his security protection and was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday, 4 August 2026, while on his way alone to a prayer ground.
The victim’s first child, Blessing Ezeokafor, in a series of social media posts, has blamed her younger brother, Eberechukwu Ezeokafor, popularly known as Jowizaza, for their father’s ordeal.
According to her, Jowizaza’s flamboyant social media lifestyle made the kidnappers believe the family has money.
She said, “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 hudroms (hoodlums) think the money is available.
"Imagine, N1 billion? If anything happens to my dad, I will hold you responsible. Making noise when we are owing bank N40billion. And these people think the money is there; see what your madness exposing has done to us.
“Fake life claiming what we don’t have. You are owing banks FCMB N40 billion, no hope to pay; you are owing union bank, you are struggling; even American company I introduced you guys Feedco, yet you keep making noise. Now your madness has made people think we have money.”
According to a source, the family was still willing to negotiate for a lesser ransom, but the kidnappers have reportedly cut off communication with the family.