Nigerian singer Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, aka Dammy Krane, was arrested on Friday for grand theft and credit card fraud in the US after he allegedly used stolen credit card details to book a jet for a trip to Miami from a private jet leasing company, Tap Jets.
No sooner had the story surfaced online than it was followed by the Amin singer’s mug shots. Dammy Krane was reportedly arrested in company with another Nigerian, Chukwuebuka Gabriel Ilochonwu.
The charge sheet, which has since gone viral on the Internet, listed Krane’s crimes as ‘Grand Theft 3rd Degree/Armed/Conspiracy/Credit Card Forgery/Intent to Defraud.’
Sunday Scoop sought to ascertain from insiders close to the embattled singer what the true story is. According to one of Dammy’s aunties, who lives in the US and who pleaded for her identity to be shielded, he was only a victim of circumstance.
She stated:
“We don’t stay in the same state over here but Dammy came to visit me just last week. I got the news of his detention on the Internet just like everybody else.
After making some calls, I was able to confirm that he was indeed arrested. He has been in the US for some time now and he has regularly been booked for shows all across America.
The guy he was arrested with had actually booked him for a show this weekend in Miami. And he (Chukwuebuka) was the one that paid for the jet and made hotel reservations with the stolen card details.”
Speaking further, she said:
“You know it is a usual thing for show promoters to book flight tickets for artistes, so one cannot blame Dammy in this situation. A lawyer has already been contacted but unfortunately, Dammy would have to stay in jail till Monday when they would be able to go to court to perfect bail conditions.”
However, this is contrary to the prevailing views on social media, with many Nigerians lambasting Krane for trying to live and portray a lifestyle above his means.
The singer had recently been posting pictures of himself eating, drinking and dancing on different private jet trips in the US.