The Lagos State Government has re-arraigned convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja for the murder of two police officers.
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were arraigned before Justice Adenike Coker on a five-count charge of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
They both pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Yusuf Sule, then asked the court for a date so that the trial could proceed. The judge sought to know about the report on the defendant’s plea bargain application. The prosecutor told the court that the matter is currently before a committee set up by the state government.
In his response, Evans’ lead defence counsel, Emefo Etudo, says he newly took up the case to represent the first defendant and that his primary focus is to pursue the plea bargain request and not a trial.
Chief Etudo also told the court that the substance of Evans’ application for a plea bargain is with respect to three pending criminal cases and another two on compassionate grounds.
He added that while in custody, Evans recently bagged a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) while in custody and is willing to further his education to the level of PhD.
The counsel asked the Lagos State government to give his client a second chance so that he could help in counseling the youth against crime.
Justice Coker acknowledged receipt of Evans’ plea bargain application and fixed further hearing in the case for March 20 when the report of the plea bargain application would be ready.
The Back Story
The Lagos State Government had filed five charges against Evans before different judges of the Lagos High Court.
In February 2022, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, sentenced Evans to life imprisonment for the kidnap of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Donatus Dunu.
In September 2022, another judge of the High Court, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo ( now retired), sentenced Evans to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping a businessman, Sylvanus Ahamonu, and collecting the sum of $420,000 as ransom from his family.
Evans is still facing trial in three other courts one of which is this present case.
