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  • Evans shot me, pretended to be a doctor – Witness

    A prosecution witness, Chief James Uduji, yesterday told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that suspected ‘billionaire’ kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, shot him during his kidnap and afterwards pretended to be a doctor.

    Uduji told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that Evans was the driver of the Lexus 470 SUV which he and three other members of his gang used during the operation.

    The witness testified at the commencement of the prosecution’s case against Evans and his co-defendants; Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    The four were arraigned on June 26 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.

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

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Evans is also facing another charge of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before the same judge.

    He is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    Led in examination by prosecution counsel Adebayo Haroun, Uduji narrated yesterday how he was kidnapped on September 7, 2015, by four armed men on his way home from his factory at Agbara in Ogun State.

    He said the incident took place very close to his house at 7th Avenue area of Festac Town, Lagos.

    Uduji said the alleged kidnappers drove a Lexus 470 SUV and fired several gun shots during the kidnap operation.

    The witness said he was surprised to see the men shooting towards his vehicle, adding that he thought they were the police.

    Uduji said: “I was inside my Hilux van with my two drivers when the men came and pulled me out of my vehicle and dragged me inside their own vehicle.

    “I was not blindfolded at this point, so I saw the men clearly and the man at the steering wheel with a gun was Evans; he is the only one I can recognise among the four,” Uduji said.

    The witness testified that it was when he was dragged out of his vehicle, that he noticed that he was stained with blood.

    “I then realised I had sustained bullet wounds,” he explained.

    Uduji said the kidnappers called a doctor on phone who treated his bullet wounds at their destination.

    The witness said he was given two tetanus injections for seven days, adding that Evans was the so called doctor who treated him.

    He said that he stayed for 45 days in captivity and a ransom of 1.2 million dollars was paid before he was released by the alleged kidnappers.

  • Witness’ absence stalls Evans’ trial

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Thurday adjourned Friday further hearing in the trial of suspected ‘billionaire’ kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, following the prosecution witness’ absence.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye fixed the date following assurances from prosecution counsel Adebayo Haroun that the witness, a Police Inspector, would be available to testify Friday.

    Read Also:Evans’ bid to stop trial fails again

    Haroun told the judge that the Inspector was engaged elsewhere on official assignment.

    “The witness is on another assignment. But he will be here tomorrow,” he said.

    The trial, which last held on June 26, 2018, should have resumed Thursday following the end of the annual vacation for judges.

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

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

    In the second charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    Both trials were adjourned till Friday.

    Evans is also facing two other charges before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, and a fifth one before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

    In one of the two charges before Justice Taiwo, the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accused Evans and three others of killing two persons in their failed attempt to kidnap the Chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors, Obianodo Vincent.

    The criminal operation was said to have been carried out by the defendants around 11pm on August 27, 2013 on Third Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos.

    Those charged along with Evans were Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze and Udeme Upong.
    The seven counts against them border on attempted murder, murder, kidnapping and illegal firearms deal.

  • Evans: Court rules September 26 on admissibility of confessional statement

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court will on September 26, 2018 rule on the admissibility of confessional statement made by the alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans.

    The trial judge fixed the date after listening to the arguments of counsels on the admissibility of the confessional statement made to the police when Evans was arrested.

    Earlier at the resumed hearing of the matter, Evans new counsel, Mr Chino Obiagwu had prayed the court for short adjournment to enable him study the case file.

    The counsel to the fifth and sixth defendants, Agwulanna Uzoukwu and Emmanuel Ochai opposed the request for adjournment, stating that several adjournments have been affecting their clients liberty.

    The trial judge, Justice Oshodi, agreed with the submission of Uzoukwu and Ochai and declined the request for adjournment by Obiagwu and advised him against filing frivolous application.

    “I cannot come from home during vacation to be told that the matter will not go on for one excuses or the other. Counsel should desists from filling frivolous application targeting at stalling the trial. Parties must get their witness ready so that justice will be served within reasonable time frame.”

    He ordered prosecution for the continuation of the trial.

    Read Also: Evans asks court to quash criminal charges

    It would be recalled that proceedings of June 26 was put on hold as a result of a new counsel, Mr. Noel Brown who took over from Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje who was counsel on commencement of Evans” trial.

    Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    They were arraigned on August 30, 2017, on two count charges of conspiracy and kidnapping of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, from whose family they allegedly collected €223,000 (N100m) as ransom.

    They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    However, the prosecution counsel, Mr Adebayo Haroun led the witness,  Inspector, Idowu Haruna , who is a member of Intelligent Response Team (IRT) that arrested the defendants and conducted investigation to narrate the outcome of the investigations.

    Inspector Haruna in his testimony told the court that his five-man team took over the investigation from Lagos State Command based on the directives of the Inspector General of Police which led to the arrest of all the defendants.

    He said upon their arrest, the defendants made confessional statements was under a conducive environment and without duress.

    The prosecution however sought to tender in evidence the confectional statement of first defendant (Evans) together with video recording of his statement.

    Evans counsel, Obiagwu opposed it as a result of which Justice Oshodi ordered a trial within trial.

    During the trial within trial, Haruna told the court that Evans was cautioned before volunteered his statement under conducive environment.

    “His statement was not recorded under duress. I did not promise him anything before he volunteered his statement. The environment was very relaxed and he (Evans) confirmed telling me the truth. At that time, nobody was armed and nothing was used to threaten him. His statement was also video recorded and it was later transferred into compact disc (CD).”

    The prosecution counsel therefore requested to show the video in the open court to prove that Evans voluntarily made the statement.

    Again Obiagwu opposed it saying that the document does not comply with the Section 84 of the Evidence Act.

    Prosecution Haroun, in his response contended that the video complied with section 84 (4)(C) and Dickson V Sylva & Ors  2016 LPELR.

    Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned for continuation of trial and ruling on the admissibility of the document.

  • Evans’ bid to stop trial fails again

    LAGOS High Court in Igbosere yesterday dismissed another attempt by suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (a.k.a Evans) to stop his fifth arraignment.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye upheld the argument of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, that the charge disclosed a prima facie case against the defendant.

    The judge held that Evans’ claim that the five-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and attempted murder was “grossly defective, repetitive and an abuse of court processes” was without merit.

    The defendant’s application to quash the charge was made on May 25, through his former counsel, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, who withdrew his representation on June 13, citing personal reasons.

    Ogungbeje was replaced by Mr. Noel Brown, who announced his appearance for Evans.

    Following Justice Akintoye’s ruling, Evans and his co-defendants, Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba, were arraigned.

    According to the charge, the defendants and others at large committed the offences on September 7, 2015 at Seventh Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

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

    They also allegedly fired shots at Mr. Donatus Nwoye, which hit him on the hand.

    The court heard that they also shot Mr. Jereome Okezie on the hand and head.

    The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened Sections 230 (a) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Akintoye remanded the defendants in prison and adjourned till September 13 for trial.

    Evans was arrested on June 10, 2017 in his Magodo, Lagos mansion.

    He is facing five different charges before three Lagos High Court judges, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

  • Again, Evans fails to stop trial

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere on Tuesday dismissed another application by suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, seeking to stop his fifth arraignment.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye upheld the argument of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, that a prima facie case has been established against the defendant.

    The judge held that Evans’ claim that the five-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and attempted murder, was “grossly defective, repetitive and an abuse of court processes” lacks merit.

    The defendant’s application to quash the charge was made on May 25, through his former counsel, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, who withdrew his representation on June 13, citing personal reasons.

    Ogungbeje was replaced by Mr. Noel Brown, who announced his appearance for Evans.

    Read Also: Evans abandoned as lawyer withdraws from kidnap cases

    Following Justice Akintoye’s ruling, Evans and his co-defendants, Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba, were arraigned by the state government.

    According to the charge, the defendants and others at large committed the offences on September 7, 2015, at Seventh Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

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

    They also allegedly fired shots at Mr. Donatus Nwoye which hit him on the hand.

    The court heard that they also shot Mr. Jereome Okezie on the hand and head.

    The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened Sections 230 (a) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Justice Akintoye remanded the defendants in prison and adjourned till September 13 for trial.

    Evans was arrested on June 10, 2017 in his Magodo, Lagos, mansion.

    He is facing five different charges before three Lagos High Court judges, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

     

  • Evans: Absence of defence counsel stalls trial

    The scheduled trial of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chuckwueme Onwuamadike, a.k.a.

    Evans, before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court was yesterday stalled due to absence of the defence counsel.

    Although a new counsel,Nuel Brown, announced appearance for Evans, in place of Olukoya Ogungbeje who withdrew earlier in the week,  two co-defendants had no legal representation in court.

    Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, second and fourth defendants respectively, informed the court that they intended to change their counsel.

    Evans is standing trial alongside Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu,  Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba.

    They were arraigned on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy, which they all pleaded not guilty to.

    At the resumed proceedings yesterday, Brown announced appearance for Evans and Uchechukwu for the first time after Ogungbeje withdrew appearances.

    Mr A.A Uzouow  and Emmanuel Ochai announced appearance for Ifeanyi  and Aduba, the fifth and sixth defendants respectively.

    Brown, counsel to Evans and the Uchechukwu, however, sought an adjournment to allow him go through the case file properly, so as to prepare for the trial.

    “My Lord, we took over this matter two weeks ago and we do not have the proper  proof of evidence.

    “With due respect to the honourable court, the learned counsel who was handling the matter before did not do a proper handing over and we have written to the prosecution to give us a copy of the proof of evidence.

    “We have asked the prosecution for the file orally and we will still write formally to that effect”, Brown said

    In her response, the prosecution led by Titilayo Shitta- Bey asked the court to grant a short adjournment so as to continue the trial within reasonable time.

    “In view of the fact that two of the defendants did not have a legal representation, we urge my Lord to grant us a short adjournment date”, she said.

    Justice Oshodi  asked the counsel to get themselves ready for the trial by applying for the necessary documents before the next adjourned date.

    He thereafter adjourned the matter till September 11, 2018 for continuation of trial.

  • Counsels’ absence stalls Evans’ trial

    Absence of defence counsels stalled the trial of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chuckwueme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja,  Friday.

    Although a new counsel for Evans, Nuel Brown, announced appearance in place of Olukoya Ogungbeje, who withdrew from the case earlier in the week, two other defendants have no legal representation in court.

    Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, second and fourth defendants respectively, told the court that they intend to change their counsel.

    Evans is standing trial alongside Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba.

    They were arraigned on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy.

    However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    At the resumed proceedings on Friday, Brown announced appearance for Evans and Uchechukwu for the first time after Ogungbeje withdrew from the case.

    Mr. A.A Uzouow  and Emmanuel Ochai announced appearance for Ifeanyi  and Aduba, the fifth and sixth defendants respectively.

    However, Brown asked for adjournment to enable him go through the case file properly.

    “My Lord, we took over this matter two weeks ago and we do not have the proper proof of evidence.

    “With due respect to the honorable court, the learned counsel who was handling the matter before did not do a proper handing over and we have written to the prosecution to avail us with copy of the proof of evidence.

    “We have asked the prosecution for the file orally and we will still write formally to that effect,” the counsel said.

     

     

  • Evans abandoned as lawyer withdraws from kidnap cases

    Suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, has no lawyer to handle  his criminal and civil matters for now.

    His  former counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje, yesterday withdrew his representation,citing  ‘personal reasons’.

    Ogungbeje had represented  Evans in his multiple kidnapping, murder and attempted murder trials at the Lagos High Court and two civil suits at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The lawyer,in a  June 13 letter, claimed that he and his colleagues in the matter had been receiving  threats to their lives.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that we have fought a good fight this far despite repeated and sustained threats to my life and my defence lawyers.

    “I dare say we have no regrets whatsoever having conducted the criminal charges involving our client this far.

    Read Also:I paid €233,000 to Evans for my boss’ release, witness tells court

    “For the sake of history, we have been able to enrich the basic principles of our criminal jurisprudence, especially the principle premised on ‘an accused person being presumed innocent until the contrary is proved’ no matter the public opinion and criticism”.

    Ogungbeje also claimed that his team kept the Lagos State Prosecution team on its toes in the art of forensic, proper and thorough investigation and prosecution of the accused persons.

    Evans was arrested on June 10, 2017 in his Magodo, Lagos mansion.

    He is currently facing five criminal charges before three Lagos High Court judges, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

    In the case before Justice Hakeem Oshodi which is expected to resume on June 22, Evans, Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba are facing a two-count of conspiracy and kidnapping of one Mr. Donatus Dunu who was the last victim allegedly kidnapped by the group before their arrest in June 2017.

     

     

  • Evans used soldier as decoy – Witness

    A member of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, Insp. Idowu Haruna, on Friday told the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, how Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, used a soldier as decoy in his criminal activities in the state.

    Haruna, a policeman with 14- year experience, stated this at the ongoing trial of Evans and his co-defendant, Victor Aduba, on four- count charge of kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

    He started his testimony at 2:00 p.m.

    While being led in evidence by Mr. Adebayo Haroun, the state Prosecutor, Haruna said: “The second defendant, Aduba, was a member of the Nigerian Army.

    “By the time the first defendant was arrested, he mentioned the name of the second defendant in his confessional statement.

    “He said whenever they had an operation, he will call Aduba and the army officer while wearing his full uniform, will seat at the front passenger seat of their vehicle so that they can pass through police road blocks with ease.”

    Haruna said when the soldier was apprehended by army authorities, he faced disciplinary procedures at the Abalti Barracks, Yaba, Lagos, before he was handed over to the police for questioning.

    The policeman also told the court about Evan’s criminal exploits.

    “The first defendant has been into kidnapping and robbery for a very long time. He started in Edo State, when I worked there, we arrested about 10 members of his syndicate but he ran away to Lagos.

    “Vincent Obianodo, the boss of Young Shall Grow Motors was his first victim in Lagos. During Obianodo’s attempted kidnap, members of his gang were killed but Evans ran away.

    “Evans was in charge of providing the arms and ammunition for his gang.

    “He led the operation for the kidnap of Mr. Sylvanus Ahamonu. He was the pilot of the vehicle. He is the sole negotiator of all the demanded ransom.

    “He never allows other members of his gang to negotiate with victims’ families.

    “He collected a total of $420,000 from Ahamonu’s family. $200,000 was personally received from Ahamonu’s family in two tranches.

    “The remaining $20,000 was collected by Evans from the Ahamonu family for drinks for his boys.

    “Aduba, the dismissed army officer confessed to being involved in the kidnap of James Udoji, Ahamonu and one Ucheson, a businessman in Alaba Market,” the witness added.

    NAN

  • Evans asks court to quash criminal charges

    Suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on Friday asked a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere to quash all the five criminal charges filed against him by Lagos State Government.

    Evans told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that his trial was an abuse of court processes because similar charges had been filed against him by the state at the Ikeja Division of the court.

    According to him, the law requires that all the cases must be consolidated and brought before one judge.

    His trial before Justice Akintoye is the fourth and fifth in a series of murder, attempted murder and kidnap charges brought against him by the state since his arrest in his Magodo, Lagos home, on June 10 last year.

    But only two charges are before Justice Akintoye.

    Three multiple-count charges are before Justices Hakeem Oshodi and Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Ikeja Division of the court.

    In the case before Justice Akintoye, Evans and three others are facing a fresh five-count charge of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder.

    His co-defendants are – Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    In the second charge, Evans, Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba are facing similar counts.

    Read Also: Again, Evans says court can’t try him

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Friday, Evans’ counsel, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, argued that all the charges were “grossly defective, repetitive and abuse of court processes.”

    Ogungbeje said: “Apart from the counts being of same offence, same section of the law (Section 153 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) is being provided in these charges.

    “I submit that the prosecution misfired by bringing different charges and instituting the same case in different courts.

    “I urge Your Lordship to quash the charges because they are defective and abuse of court process.”

    But Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, opposed him.

    She said: “The general rule is that every offence must be in a separate count.”

    Shitta-Bey said the first defendant was charged with attempt to murder Chief James Udoji in count three, while in count four, he was charged with attempt to murder Mr. Donald Nwonye.

    “It will be against the provisions of the law to lump the two offences in one count,” she added.