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Tag: Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike

  • Serial kidnap kingpin Evans pleads for leniency

    Serial kidnap kingpin Evans pleads for leniency

    Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has adjourned till April 17 to hear a report on the applications for plea bargain and leniency made by convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, in one of his pending trials.

    His co-defendants, Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Linus Opara, are also seeking plea bargain agreements with the Lagos State government.

    The four are standing trial in a five-count charge on conspiracy, kidnapping and attempted murder before Justice Sonaike who began the case afresh in January 2023, following the retirement of Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

    At the resumed hearing yesterday, which was fixed for trial, prosecuting counsel, Alaba Kuku told the judge that the defendants have expressed interests in pursuing plea bargain agreements with the state government.

    He confirmed that Evans’ counsel, Emefo Etudo, had given him an advance copy of the application, which is before the government for consideration.

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    Other counsel – Emeka Azubuike representing the second defendant, Chinyere Udeh representing the third defendant, and Emmanuel Ochai who appeared for the fourth defendant confirmed the development to the court.

    But, the third defendant’s counsel, said he was yet to submit his application for plea bargain to the state government.

    I’m an interview with reporters, Evans’ counsel, Emefo Etudo, detailed his client’s journey toward rehabilitation and his appeal for leniency.

    He said:”The prosecution has acknowledged receipt of our plea bargain application, as well as those submitted by others. Evans is remorseful and has demonstrated this through his plea bargain agreement. Embracing the Federal Government’s offer, he has undertaken educational programmes within the Maximum Security Prison.”

  • Evans re-arraigned for killing two police officers, kidnap attempt

    Evans re-arraigned for killing two police officers, kidnap attempt

    Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (a.k.a. Evans) was yesterday re-arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for the murder of two police officers and attempted kidnap of the Young Shall Grow Transport Company boss, Chief Obianodo Vincent.

    Evans was re-arraigned alongside co-defendant Joseph Emeka on a five-count charge – murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit kidnapping, and attempted kidnapping before Justice Adenike Coker.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka are in the custody of Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre following conviction in other matters.

    During proceedings yesterday, the prosecuting counsel, Yusuf Sule told the court that the matter is starting de novo.

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    He prayed the court to allow the charges to be read to the defendants again so that their plea could be taken.

    There were no objections from the defendants’ counsels.

    Yusuf told the court that the first and second  defendants have applied for plea bargain through their new counsels Chief Okechukwu Omefo and C. N . Udeh.

    “My Lord, I have the applications for both defendants and we will look at it.

    “I urge the court to remand them pending the trial date,’’ he said.

    Omefo prayed the court for a date so that their application for plea bargain agreement could be heard by the state government.

    “It is not that we would not defend them but this is primarily our focus because I have advised my client and discovered that he is remorseful,” he added.

  • Court orders Evans, 3 others to get legal representative by June 14

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court has ordered alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans and three other defendants to ensure they have legal representation by June 14.

    Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba over the alleged kidnap of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Mr Donatius Dunu.

    NAN reports that the six were arraigned on Aug. 30, 2017 on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping. According to the prosecution, they allegedly kidnapped Dunu and collected 223,000 Euros (N100m) as ransom.Evans and his co-defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    At resumption of the trial on Thursday, proceeding was stalled due to the absence of defence counsel for Evans, Amadi, Uchechukwu and Ifeanyi.

    Following the development, Justice Oshodi mandated Evans and the three other defendants to ensure they have legal representation by June 14, the next adjourned date.

    The judge also directed that counsel from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) be in court on the next adjourned date to represent the defendants in case they failed to get counsel to represent them in court.

    “If on the next day, the defence counsel are not around, the courts will order the defendants to either represent themselves or the court invokes Section 233(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

    “The prosecution shall also notify the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to be in court on the next adjourned date.
    “This case is adjourned to June 14 for the continuation of the evidence of PW4,” Justice Oshodi said.

    Earlier during proceedings, Mr Emmanuel Ochai, the defence counsel representing Aduba (sixth defendant), told the court that other kidnap trials involving Evans have been stalled in other courts for the same reason.

    “We were before your learned brother yesterday at the High Court in Igbosere and we had the same issue.

    “Due to the absence of the counsel to the first (Evans) and fourth (Ifeanyi) defendants here, the matter was stalled.

    “I really do not know why there is no legal representation but we as counsel to the sixth defendant (Aduba) are ready to proceed,” Ochai said.

    Read Also: Court gives Evans till May 17 to get lawyer 

    Mr A. A Uzokwu, the counsel to the fifth defendant (Nwachukwu), also told the court that they were ready to proceed but was handicapped because of the absence of the other defence counsel.

    “What is happening now is like they are like a stationary vehicle, some of us are behind and that stationary vehicle and because it is not moving, we cannot move,” he said.

    When asked why he had no legal representation Evans told the court “I did not communicate with him.

    Amadi, Uchechukwu and Ifeanyi also told the court that they had not communicated with their defence counsel.

    Reacting to the absence of the defence counsels for the first to fourth defendants, Mr Y.G Oshoala a Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asked the court to appoint counsel for the defendants.

    “My Lord, yesterday we were before your learned brother Justice Akintoye at the Igbosere High Court.

    “The case was adjourned and that was the third adjournment granted by that court at the instance of the first defendant (Evans).

    “It is a game they are playing and I pray the court assist the state and invoke Section 233(3) of the ACJL which allows the court to appoint counsel for the defendants in these circumstances.

    “We brought our witness from out of jurisdiction or if the defendants so wish, they can defend themselves, it is their constitutional right,” Oshoala said.

    A policeman and the fourth prosecuting witness, Insp Idowu Haruna, was in court to testify in the proceedings that was eventually stalled.

  • Court gives Evans till May 17 to get lawyer 

    Lagos High Court has given kidnap suspect Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans till May 17 to get a lawyer to defend him.

    The order came 12 days after a similar directive by an Ikeja High Court where he is also standing trial.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye on Wednesday  told Evans, whose case has suffered three adjournments because he has no lawyer, that he now has  only three options :

    * defend himself;

    * get a new counsel;

    *or the court will appoint a Legal Aid counsel for him.

    The judge’s warning followed the third consecutive absence of Evans’ counsel, Chino Obiagwu (SAN).

    Read Also:  Again lawyers stall Evans’ trial

    At the last sitting on March 1, Obiagwu was not in court. But he sent a letter informing Justice Akintoye of his absence.

    Acknowledging the letter, Justice Akintoye adjourned till Wednesday for address by counsel for trial-within-trial.

    On March 29, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja High Court gave him up till May 10 to get a lawyer or defend himself. Alternatively,  the court said it could appoint a Legal Aid counsel for him.

    Evans, Joseph Ikenna Emeka, 29, Chiemeka Arinze, 39, and Udeme Frank Upong, 43, are standing trial on a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to kidnap and selling of firearms.

    None of Evans’ lawyers was present yesterday nor did they write the court on their absence.

    Upon enquiry from Justice Adedayo, Evans said: “The last time we spoke, he told me that on the next adjournment he would be in court.”

    Judge: “So, he’s not here today?”

    Evans: “Yes.”

    Prosecuting counsel Yaqub Oshoala prayed the court to invoke Section 233 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), which empowers it to appoint a counsel for the defendant.

    He said: “The provision is that where the defendant fails or is unable to secure a counsel, the court has the discretion to order the Legal Aid Council to provide a representation for the defendant.

    “This is the third time this matter is called and the first defendant (Evans) is not represented”.

    Turning to Evans, Justice Akintoye asked: “What exactly is the position? I understand they don’t want to appear for you. Do you want the court to appoint another lawyer for you?”

    Evans shook his head. “No, my lord,” he said.

    The judge advised him to ensure that he got a lawyer before the next adjourned date.

    Justice Akintoye said: “If your lawyers don’t want to appear, we cannot force them.

    “You have three options, you can get another lawyer to represent you or the court can appoint one for you or you can defend yourself, which is not advisable.

    “Today is the last chance that I have given; otherwise I will do what I have said. After today, there will be no more adjournment.”

  • Updated: Court gives Evans last chance to get lawyer by May 17

    An Igboseree High Court, Lagos Wednesday gave suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, till May 17 to get a counsel to defend the criminal charges against him.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye told Evans, whose case has suffered three adjournments following his failure to secure legal representation, that he had only three options.

    He could defend himself, get a new counsel or the court would appoint a legal aid counsel for him, Justice Adedayo said.

    The judge gave the warning following the third consecutive absence of Evans’ counsel, Chino Obiagwu (SAN).

    At the last sitting on March 1, Obiagwu did not make an appearance but sent a letter informing Justice Akintoye of his absence.

    No member of Evans’ legal team, Including Olanrewaju Ajanaku, was present.

    Acknowledging his letter, the judge adjourned till yesterday for address by counsel for trial within trial.

    On March 29, an Ikeja High Court also gave Evans one more chance to get a lawyer to defend him in a similar case.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo gave him till May 10, to do so, otherwise he could defend himself or the court would appoint a legal aid counsel for him.

    Wednesday’s adjournment in Igbosere, the third consecutively, followed that of January 31, foisted on the court by the non-appearance of another defence counsel, Emmanuel Ochai, and that of March 1.

    Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Ikenna Emeka, 29, Chiemeka Arinze, 39, Udeme Frank Upong, 43, on a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to kidnap and selling of firearms.

    At the commencement of yesterday’s proceedings, no member of Evans’ legal team was present.

    There was also no letter to the court to explain their absence.

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    Upon an enquiry from Justice Adedayo, Evans said: “The last time we spoke, he told me that on the next adjournment he will be in court.”

    Judge: “So, he’s not here today?”

    Evans: “Yes.”

    Prosecuting counsel Yhaqub Oshoala prayed the court to invoke Section 233 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) which empowers it to appoint a counsel for the defendant.

    He said: “The provision is that where the defendant fails or is unable to secure a counsel, the court has the discretion to order the legal aid counsel to provide a representation for the defendant.

    “This is the third time this matter is called and the first defendant (Evans) is not represented”.

    Acknowledging his submission, Justice Adedayo turned to Evans and asked: “What exactly is the position? I understand they don’t want to appear for you. Do you want the court to appoint another lawyer for you?”

    Evans shook his head and said: “No, my lord.”

    The judge advised him to ensure that he got a legal representative before the next adjourned date.

    Justice Akintoye said: “If your lawyers don’t want to appear, we cannot force them.
    “You have three options, you can get another lawyer to represent you or the court can appoint one for you or you can defend yourself, which is not advisable.

    “Today is the last chance that I have given, otherwise I will do what I have said. After today, there will be no more adjournment.”

    The judge adjourned till May 17 for continuation of trial.

     

  •  Again lawyers stall Evans’ trial

    For the second time in 30 days, the trial of suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, was stalled at a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, yesterday, following the absence of a defence counsel.

    Evans’ lawyer, Chino Obiagwu (SAN), did not make an appearance but sent a letter informing Justice Adedayo Akintoye of his absence.

    No member of Evans’ legal team, including Olanrewaju Ajanaku, was present.

    Consequently, the judge adjourned till March 22 at 10am for address by counsel for trial within trial.

    The adjournment, the second consecutively, followed that of January 31, foisted on the court by the non-appearance of another defence counsel, Emmanuel Ochai, following which the judge adjourned till yesterday.

    At the commencement of proceedings, yesterday, prosecution counsel, Y. G. Oshoala, drew the court’s attention to the absence of Evans’ counsel and Ochai’s January 31st non-appearance.

    “This is not the first time such is happening. The Supreme Court stated that the court is not a slave of time that must wait for a party to come and present his case. We submit that the court cannot wait for them,” Oshoala said.

    He directed the court’s mind to the need to do justice to all parties,” the state, the defendant, the public.”

    But making an order for adjournment, Justice Akintoye said: “I’ve noted your observation. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt because the defence counsel is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). I assume he is not just wasting the time of the court.”

    The judge made the same order in a related case involving Evans. The defendant is facing two separate charges, bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before Justice Akintoye.

    In the first charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    The quartet were arraigned on June 26, 2018, following the dismissal of Evans’ objection to a five-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and attempted murder, preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.

    The defendants and others at large, allegedly committed the offences on September 7, 2015, at Seventh Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

    They allegedly conspired and kidnapped Chief James Uduji, obtained a ransom of $1.2million and shot him on the shoulder while trying to kill him.

    In the second charge, he is joined on trial with Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

  • Commercial driver held for allegedly stealing Evans’ exhibits

    A 27-year-old commercial driver, Mashudu Rabiu, yesterday appeared at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly stealing three articulated vehicle carcases recovered from notorious kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans.

    The police charged Rabiu, whose residential address was not provided, with two counts of conspiracy and stealing.

    Prosecuting Inspector Raphael Donny alleged that the defendant conspired with others at large, and stole three trailer carcases valued at N10. 5 million, which were recovered by the police as exhibits from the kidnap kingpin.

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    Donny said the defendant committed the offence on December 10 last year at 3am at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

    He said the defendant conspired with the guard and stole the carcases.

    The defendant, he alleged, was arrested in Katsina and brought back to Lagos to face his charges.

    The offence, he said, contravened sections 287 and 411 of the 2015 (Revised) Criminal Law of Lagos State.

    Chief Magistrate B. O. Osunsemi admitted the defendant to N2 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be employed with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court.

    Osunsemi added that they must live within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case till March 23.

  • Kidnapping: Absence of witness stalls Evans’ trial

    The absence of Insp. Idowu Haruna, a witness for the prosecution, stalled the trial of an alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, on Thursday.

    Evans with others is standing trial for the attempted kidnap of Chief Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of The Young Shall Grow Motors.

    Other defendants in the matter holding at a Special Offences Court in Ikeja are Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze and Udeme Upong.

    The defendants are facing a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sales and transfer of firearms.

    The prosecution said the defendants committed the offences on Aug. 27, 2013 at Third Avenue., Festac Town, Lagos.

    It said Evans and others allegedly killed Mr Chijioke Ngozi and attempted to kill and kidnap Obianodo.

    The prosecution also alleged that in 2008, Upong sold and transferred two AK47 rifles and 70 rounds of live ammunition to Evans.

    Read Also: Evans: police burned me with cigarette to make me confess

    At Thursday’s sitting, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was to open its case against the defendants with the testimony of Haruna, the first witness.

    Haruna, is a member of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

    Explaining the absence of the policeman, Mr Adebayo Haroun, the Lagos State Prosecutor, said that the prosecution witness was involved in a minor accident on his way to court.

    “PW1 is not in court; he sent me a text message that he was involved in a slight accident,” he said.

    Following Haroun’s explanation, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until Feb. 6, for trial.

    The judge also ordered that the second and third defendants, who had no legal representative, should ensure that their counsel was in court on the next adjourned date.

  • Cigarette burns made me confess to police – Evans

    An Igbosere High Court Lagos on Wednesday heard suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, made his confessional statement to the police under duress.

    Evans told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that he signed papers given to him by the police so as not to be tortured to death.

    He claimed members of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), which arrested him in 2017, intimidated him by executing suspected criminals in his presence, before assaulting him.

    Evans is facing two separate charges, bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before Justice Akintoye.

    In the first charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    In the second charge, he is joined on trial with Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    At the resumption of his trial on Thursday, Evans alleged the IGP IRT tortured suspects to death by suffocating them with plastic bags and threatened to do same to him if he failed to cooperate with them.

    He claimed that some sheets of papers were brought for him to sign, adding some of the papers were blank while others had written content.

    Read Also: ‘How Evans shot Young Shall Grow Motors’ chairman’

    Evans said: “When I asked what I was to sign the police officers slapped my head and even quenched a cigarette on my hand.

    “The officers were beating me and told me that if anything happened to me, no one would know. They hit my head and blood was gushing, the scars are still on my head.

    “When I saw how five men who were paraded with me were tortured and killed, I agreed to sign the papers with fear of what happened to the other men.”

    He also said that the contents of the papers he signed were not read to him and there was no video recording during the statement taking process.

    He testified during a trial within a trial conducted to ascertain whether his statement admissible or not.

    He was led in evidence by his counsel, Mr O. I. Ajanaku.

    The defendant was afterwards cross-examined by Lagos State counsel, Dr Jide Martins.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned further hearing till January 30.

  • Evans and the fight against kidnapping

    The name “Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike” may not ring a bell when mentioned, but bearer’s operational appellation “Evans” instantly connects to our eardrum wherever it is called. Evans, as Chukwudumeme is popularly called, is not known for a noble, heroic or righteous cause. He attained a ‘celebrity’ status not for anything good, but for his unrivalled deftness in broad daylight abduction.

    Before he was eventually nabbed last year inside his imposing mansion at Magodo area of Lagos State, Evans was a deft and mercurial kidnapper who rightfully deserves an honourable mention in the infamous hall of Nigerian dare-devil criminals. For the records, he had reigned supreme as a fearless ringleader of a kidnapping syndicate for almost a decade.

    Shouldn’t he, by now, be languishing in one of our horrifying dungeons, a year after he was caught?

    Not in Nigeria, where prosecution, like other fundamental national issues, takes forever before a final court verdict is given. In saner climes where things work, it is a matter of an inconsequential time for the likes of Evans to find themselves banished to prison permanently for their heinous and reprehensible actions.

    In Nigeria, the question many have asked, and are still asking is: when will the master of kidnapping, Evans, meet his comeuppance? The germane answer, possibly, will be provided by the bowel of time.

    Meanwhile, why has kidnapping become a lucrative venture in our society? Of course, unemployment takes the lead as the principal cause of abduction in return for a colossal amount of money.

    We have become the world’s poverty capital, says Theresa May, the British Minister in South Africa, prior to her diplomatic trip to Nigeria, in October. If her statement is anything to go by, then concluding that poverty has not only fueled kidnapping in the ‘Giant of Africa’, but made the atrocious trade to boom, will not be fallacious.

    Then, enters illiteracy. How does one who is not well or even educated – at all – decipher that abduction for money is entirely callous and perhaps, satanic – both in the eyes of mankind and God Almighty.

    It is absolutely pointless shedding light on how corruption, greed and politics have led many youths into kidnapping, most especially in contemporary times. The sheer psychological trauma and depression suffered by victims of forceful abduction is better imagined than being experienced. And that is, if the ruthless kidnappers didn’t snuff their (defenseless preys) lives out.

    Emphasis should be given to massive job-creation for the unemployed and sophisticated training of anti-kidnapping personnel to help combat the vice. It is imperative also that stringent punishments be meted out to convicted abductors. It is one of the most potent ways of curbing the disturbing malady. But at this moment, one can only hope that government does the needful, and not engage in giving rhetorical reassurances. The fight against kidnapping must be approached with a sense of burning urgency, and nothing else.

     

    • Arafat, 100-Level Mass Communication, BUK