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Tag: Evans

  • Evans to face two fresh kidnap charges

    •Court dismisses kidnap kingpin’s application to quash charges

    A LAGOS High Court in Igbosere yesterday adjourned till May 7 for the arraignment of suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on two fresh charges.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye set the date after dismissing Evans’ two applications challenging the validity of the proposed charges filed by the Lagos State Government.

    Evans argued through his counsel Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje that both charges were “defective and an abuse of court processes”.

    But Justice Akintoye upheld the contention of Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, that the charges are competent.

    In the first of both charges seen by The Nation, Evans and three others will face a five-count charge of kidnapping and attempted murder.

    The other defendants are Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    In the second charge, Evans will be arraigned on similar offences alongside Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    At the resumed hearing yesterday, the judge noted that the issue for determination was whether a prima facie case has been established against the defendants.

    Justice Akintoye said: “Looking closely at the proof of evidence attached to the information in this case, a prima facie case has clearly been disclosed against the defendant/applicant.”

    The judge said the victim in the instant case, Uche Okereafor’s wife was the person who paid the ransom, adding that the statement of the first defendant (Evans) itself alleged that the first defendant was the mastermind and gang leader of the group.

    “Other defendants participated in several kidnappings and shared the ransom collected from their victims.

    “The third defendant ( Ugochukwu Nwachukwu)  in his own statement and proof of evidence showed that he is a member of the gang and shared in the ransom collected from victims.

    “I hold therefore that the proof of evidence disclosed a prima facie case against the first and third defendant,” she said.

    Justice Akintoye also said the charge filed against the defendants were not defective based on the provisions of Section 152 and 153 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State,2015.

    Justice Akintoye added that the court does not have the power and the jurisdiction to quash the charge before the close of the prosecution’s case.

    “I don’t believe that the court has the power to quash the charge before the close of the prosecution’s case as in the clear wordings of Section 262 of ACJL, such application is premature and cannot be sustained.

    “The defendant must wait until the close of the prosecution’s case before applying for any charge to be quashed.

    She said the same fate is applicable to the second defendant (Joseph Emeka) who urged the court to expunge his name from the charge stating that no prima facie case was made against him.

    Evans, who was arrested by the police last June 10, was arraigned last August before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court for alleged kidnapping.

    Last October 23, he was also arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Igbosere High Court, Lagos on two separate charges.

    Five charges have been preferred against Evans  by the Lagos State Government.

     

  • Evans faces two fresh charges May 7

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Thursday adjourned till May 7, the arraignment of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on two fresh charges.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye set the date after dismissing Evans’ two applications challenging the validity of the proposed charges filed by the Lagos State Government.

    Evans argued through his counsel Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, that both charges were “defective and abuse of court processes.”

    But Justice Akintoye upheld the contention of Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, that the charges are competent.

    In the first of both charges seen by The Nation, Evans and three others will face a five-count charge of kidnapping and attempted murder.

    The other defendants are – Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    In the second charge, Evans will be arraigned on similar offences alongside Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the judge noted that the issue for determination was whether a prima facie case has been established against the defendants.

    Justice Akintoye said: “Looking closely at the proof of evidence attached to the information in this case, a prima facie case has clearly been disclosed against the defendant/applicant.”

    The judge said the victim in the instant case, Uche Okereafor’s wife was the person who paid the ransom, adding that the statement of the first defendant (Evans) itself alleged that the first defendant was the mastermind and gang leader of the group.

    “Other defendants participated in several kidnappings and shared the ransom collected from their victims.

    “The third defendant (Ugochukwu Nwachukwu)  in his own statement and proof of evidence showed that he is a member of the gang and shared in the ransom collected from victims.

    “I hold therefore that the proof of evidence disclosed a prima facie case against the first and third defendant,” she said.

    Justice Akintoye also said the charge filed against the defendants were not defective based on the provisions of Section 152 and 153 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State,2015.

    She added that the court does not have the power and the jurisdiction to quash the charge before the close of the prosecution’s case.

    “I don’t believe that the court has the power to quash the charge before the close of the prosecution’s case as in the clear wordings of Section 262 of ACJL, such application is premature and cannot be sustained.

    “The defendant must wait until the close of the prosecution’s case before applying for any charge to be quashed,” the judge added.

     

  • How I was kidnapped, chained by Evans for 88 days, abduction victim Dunu tells court

    Chief Donatus Dunu, one of the victims of alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, yesterday narrated to an Ikeja Special Offences Court how he was kidnapped and how he escaped from his abductors.

    He made the disclosure while he was being led in evidence before Justice Hakeem Oshodi by the Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Ms Titi Shitta-Bey.

    Dunu told the court that he spent 88 days in the kidnappers’ den situated in Igando part of Lagos before he escaped.

    He said: “I closed from work around 7.30 pm when an SUV double-crossed me in Ilupeju and a man came down from the car and pointed a long gun at me.

    “He dragged me down, pushed me into the booth of their car and covered it.

    “I found myself in their den, and during an interaction with their chairman, Evans, on the phone, he threatened that it was only God that could save me from their hands, and that no man would ever find me even if they killed me.”

    He said one day, after spending 88 days with the kidnappers, he overheard them discussing what should be done to him.

    “I overheard one of the kidnappers tell others that the best option was to kill me since my brothers were not acting fast in paying the one million Euro ransom they had demanded.

    “But after I prayed in the midnight of the Thursday before the Friday they scheduled to kill me, I wrapped the bedspread in the room where they kept me round the shackles on my legs like the one used to chain mad people, and the padlocks opened up.

    “I quietly went out of the room where they kept me. I found the kidnapper guarding me in deep  sleep on a three-seater in the parlour.

    “I walked to the kitchen and found the door and the protector open. I eased my way through loose locks and surprisingly found a ladder in the compound that aided my escape into the next compound.

    “On the day I jumped into the next compound, which was also a bungalow like the one I was kept in, I sustained injuries.

    “In addition, I was looking very unkempt and haggard.”

    He said when the couple who lived inside the compound into which he  jumped saw him, they were scared.

    He said: “They threatened to call security in the street or the police. I told them to call the police. But just when they were about to do that, electricity went off and they abandoned me and went back to sleep.

    “At that time, I realised that the kidnappers had started looking for me, so I hid somewhere in the compound till morning.

    “The couple woke up to see me and decided to call the street chairman. But before they could do that, a young man of about 24 years old flogged and chased me out of the compound.

    “I got to a nursery school around the kidnappers’ den and the corporate guards there didn’t still believe my story.

    “Somehow, another man who listened to my story decided to call my wife and cousin when I gave him their numbers.”

    Dunu said it was only his  cousin’s phone that connected and they spoke.

    “So the man became convinced  that I was not a thief. He then took me to Idimu Police Station from where they contacted Ilupeju Police Station where my brothers initially logged complaint of my kidnap.

    “From there, we went to Anti-cultism and Kidnap in Surulere, and from there to the Lagos State Police Commissioner’s office, from where all us went to the kidnappers’ den.

    “Thereafter, I was taken to Police House in Lagos where I saw Evans and the second defendant. Also at Agege police station, I saw the fourth defendant known as Congo, who is from my home town.

    “At the meetings, they pleaded that I should forgive them, that it was devil that pushed them.”

    During cross examination, the counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants, Olukoya Ogungbede, reminded the victim that he wrote in his statement at the police that he was kidnapped in April but told the court that it was in February.

    Dunu  responded that it was a mistake.

    Justice Oshodi has adjourned the matter till May 11, 2018 for continuation of cross examination.

  • How I was kidnapped, chained by Evans – Victim

    Chief Conatus Duru, one of the victims of suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, on Friday told the Ikeja Special Offences Court how he was kidnapped and escaped from his abductors.

    Duru made the disclosure while being led in evidence before Justice Hakeem Oshodi by the Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Ms Titi Shitta-Bey.

    The victim told the court he spent 88 days in the kidnappers’ den located somewhere in Igando, Lagos before his escape.

    He said: “I closed from work at 7:30 p.m. when an SUV double-crossed me in Ilupeju and a man came down from the car and pointed a long gun at me.

    “He dragged me down and pushed me into the booth of their car and covered the car.

    “I found myself in their den and during an interaction with their chairman, Evans, on phone, he told me that it was only God that could save me from their hands. He said no man will ever find me even if they kill me.

    Duru said after spending 88 days in the kidnappers’ den, he overheard them one day, discussing what should be done to him.

    “I overheard one of the kidnappers telling others that the best option was to kill me since my brothers were not acting fast in paying their one million Euro ransom.

    “But after I prayed in the midnight of Thursday, before the Friday they scheduled to kill me, I wrapped the bed spread in the room where they kept me, round the shackles on my legs, like the one used to chain mad people, the padlocks opened up.

    “I quietly went out of the room where they kept me. I found one of the kidnappers guarding me in deep sleep on a three-seater in the parlour.

    “I walked to the kitchen, found the doors open and the protector. I eased my way through loose locks, and surprisingly found a ladder in the compound and that aided my escape into the next compound.

    “After I jumped into the next compound which was also a bungalow like the one I was kept, I sustained injuries. In addition, I was looking very unkempt and haggard.”

    Duru said when the couple living inside the compound he jumped to saw him, they were scared.

    He said: “They threatened to call security in the street or the police. I told them to call the police.

    “Just when they were about to do that, electricity went off and they abandoned me and went back to sleep.

    “At that time, I realized that the kidnappers had started looking for me. So I hid somewhere in the compound till the morning.

    “The couple woke up to see me and decided to call the street chairman. But before they could do that, a young man of about 24 years old flogged and chased me out of the compound.

    “I got to a nursery school around the kidnappers’ den and the corporate guards there didn’t still believe my story. Somehow, another man who listened to my story decided to call my wife and cousin when I gave him their numbers.

    He said it was only his cousin’s phone that connected and the guards spoke with him.

    “So the man became convinced that I was not a thief. He then took me to Idimu Police Station from where they contacted Ilupeju Police Station where my brothers initially logged the complaint about my disappearance.

    “From there, we went to the police Anti-Cultism and Kidnap unit in Surulere and from there to Lagos State Police Commissioner’s office and all of us went to the kidnappers’ den.

    “Thereafter, I was taken to police house in Lagos where I saw Evans and the second defendant. Also at Agege police station, I saw the fourth defendant known as Congo, who is from my home town.

    “At the meetings, they pleaded that I should forgive them, that it was devil that pushed them.”

  • Video of Evans confessing to kidnapping shown in court

    Two Compact Discs (CDs) showing video recordings of suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (aka Evans)’s confessions were played yesterday at an Ikeja Special  Offences Court.

    The video recordings beamed on the wall of the court room before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo showed Evans confessing to kidnapping and armed robberies within and outside Lagos State.

    The clips from the video were played while the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Titi Shitta-Bey, was leading a witness, Inspector Idowu Haruna, in evidence in-chief.

    Evans is standing trial  with co-defendant, Victor Aduba, on four-counts of kidnapping of Sylvanus Ahanonu Afia and for unlawful possession of firearms.

    Ms  Shitta-Bey had requested the court to tender the  two CDs containing the confessions of Evans in the matter.

    She had also requested that a  portion of the videos be played  to prove  its authenticity to the defence team.

    In the video, Evans wears a red T-shirt, sits on a leather settee in a room and confesses his crimes to Haruna.

    He is giving details of his family background, how he ran away from home, went into armed robbery and later kidnapping. Evans is occasionally smiling as he narrates his escapades in bank robberies and  kidnapping. He says the ransom collected ranged from $250,000 to $1 million, depending on his victim.

    Haruna, a policeman with 14 years’ experience in the police, told the court how he came in contact with the defendants while serving as a member of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team.

    He said the defendants were arrested for the kidnap of one person in February 14, last year.

    “That victim was taken to their hideout in Igando, a Lagos suburb, and kept there for a month till he escaped.

    “Through covert operations, we arrested Evans and, during interrogations, he mentioned Victor Aduba,” Haruna said.

    He said Evans, during interrogation, gave the police the names and information about the people he had kidnapped in Lagos and in other states.

    “He (Evans) confessed that on June 28,  2014, at Saka Street in Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos, he was armed with a AK-47 gun and kidnapped Mr Sylvanus Ahanonu and took him to their hideout in a Danfo bus.

    “After holding the victim for nine weeks, the abductors contacted his family, demanding $2 million. They negotiated  with his family and they agreed to pay $420,000,” he said.

    Haruna said the money was paid by instalments.

    The policeman added that after  Sylvanus regained his freedom, he gave a statement to the police. His (Sylvanus) wife,  Chinyemere, who negotiated his release, and his brother, Dominic, who dropped off the ransom, all volunteered statements.

    “Evans was cautioned in English language and his statement recorded by our video recorder, which took records of the interview.  “He  was taken to DSP Phillip, a superior officer, and his statement was recorded, Haruna said.

    The statements of Sylvanus, Chinyemere and Dominic were tendered in evidence  by the DPP and the CDs containing the confessions of Evans were played in the courtroom.

    The DPP requested the court to admit the CDs and a certificate on the recordings in evidence.

    But Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje,  Evans’ defence counsel, requested for time to study the recordings and compare the copy of the CDs served on them with what was played in court.

    He said the defence team would also need time to study the certificate, which he said was served on them in the court.

    Ogungbeje said: “My Lord, we will be requesting for time to call our technical experts to examine the CDs played in court  today as well as the certificate of identification served on us in open court.”

    Also, during proceedings, Mr Emmanuel Ochai, counsel to Aduba,  complained about how Kirikiri Prisons officials eavesdropped on the conversations between the defence counsel and their clients.

    Replying Ochai’s complaint,  Justice  Taiwo cautioned the prison wardens.

    He said: “You are not supposed to be overhearing when the lawyers are conferring with the defendants. Stand at a safe and reasonable distance, so long as you can observe the defendants.

    “Please, allow justice to be done in this case.”

    Ogungbeje had brought an application challenging the amended charge against the defendants.

    According to him,  the additional evidence was overreaching and insufficient to sustain the charge. Dismissing Ogungbeje’s application, Justice Taiwo said the application lacked merit.

    She adjourned the matter till April 23 for continuation.

  • Video of Evans confession for kidnapping shown in court

    Two Compact Disks (CDs) showing video recordings of alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans’ confession  for alleged kidnapping were on Wednesday played at the Ikeja Special  Offences court.

    The video recordings presented to Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo showed Evans confessing to kidnapping of his victims and armed robbery within and outside Lagos State.

    The clips from the video were played while the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Titi Shitta-Bey, was leading a witness, Insp. Idowu Haruna, in evidence in-chief.

    Evans is standing trial with co-defendant, Victor Aduba on four-count charge of kidnapping of Sylvanus Ahanonu Afia and unlawful possession of firearms.

    Shitta-Bey had requested the court to tender the two CDs containing the confessions of Evans in the matter.

    She also requested that portion of the videos should be played in court to prove its authenticity to the defence team.

    The videos showed Evans wearing a red T-shirt, seated on a leather seat in a room and confessing his crimes to Haruna.

    He was heard giving details of his family background, how he ran away from home, went into armed robbery and later kidnapping.

    Evans was smiling as he narrated his escapades in bank robberies and kidnapping.

    He said the ransom collected ranged from $250,000 to $1million depending on the victim.

    Haruna, a policeman with 14-year experience in the Nigerian Police Force, also told the court he came in contact with the defendants while serving as a member of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

    He said the defendants were arrested for the kidnap of one person in February 14, 2017.

    “That victim was taken to their hideout in Igando, Lagos, and kept there for a month till he escaped from the hideout.

    “Through covert operations, we arrested Evans and during interrogations he mentioned Victor Aduba,” the policeman said.

    He said Evans during interrogation provided information on the people he had kidnapped in Lagos and other states.

     

     

  • Evans sues police for N1b over sealed houses

    Suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, has asked a Lagos Federal High Court to compel the police to pay him N1 billion for alleged unlawful sealing off of his Lagos property.

    In a  suit filed yesterday by his counsel Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, Evans is asking for N1 billion as “general and exemplary damages for the alleged forceful seizure of the property and other items without a court order.”

    The applicant is also seeking N4 million as cost of action against   Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the police, IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abba Kyari and Deputy Superintendent Phillip Rieninwa.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing.

    Some of the items include N50 million cash, two residential duplexes, a Brigade wrist-watch valued at $170,000, a phone worth $30,000 and five pieces of Saphono Rucci Diamond rings worth $100,000.

    Others are three Italian travel bags worth $55,000, 10 Spanish shoes each worth N2.5 million, 20 KVA inverter set worth N10 million, two sets of dining table worth N8 million.

    He is seeking a declaration that the  forcible seizure and sealing of his property without any court order is illegal, wrongful and unconstitutional.

    The plaintiff is also praying for an order compelling the respondents jointly and severally to immediately and unconditionally release the properties as well as to immediately and unconditionally unseal and vacate the his two  houses located at Magodo in Lagos.

    Evans prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from tampering or taking any action against him  or any of his property in relation to this case.

  • Evans seeks N1bn damages over sealed properties

    Suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on Tuesday  asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel the police to pay him N1 billion over “unlawful” sealing of his properties in Lagos.

    Evans filed the suit through his counsel, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje.

    He wants the N1billion as “general and exemplary damages for the alleged forceful seizure and confiscation of the properties without a court order.”

    The applicant is also seeking N4 million as cost of action against five co-respondents.

    The respondents are – the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Nigeria Police Force, IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Abba Kyari and Deputy Superintendent Phillip Rieninwa.

    No date has been fixed for hearing on the matter.

    The affected properties include N50 million cash, two residential duplexes, a Brigade wrist-watch valued at $170,000, a phone worth $30,000 and five pieces of Saphono Rucci Diamond rings worth $100,000.

    Others are – three Italian travel bags worth $55,000, 10 Spanish shoes each worth N2.5 million, 20 KVA inverter set worth N10 million and two sets of dining table worth N8 million.

    Other reliefs sought by Evans include a declaration that the alleged forcible seizure, confiscation and sealing of his property without any court order are illegal, wrongful and unconstitutional.

    Furthermore, he wants an order compelling the respondents jointly and severally to immediately and unconditionally release the properties.

    In addition, the kidnap kingpin is asking the court for an order compelling the respondents to immediately and unconditionally unseal and vacate the two residential houses located in Magodo area of Lagos.

    Lastly, he prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from tampering or taking any action against him or any of his properties in relation to the case.

    Evans was arrested by the police in June 10 last year.

    He was arraigned in August before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for alleged kidnapping.

    Evans was also arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on two separate charges on October 23.

    Two other charges are also pending against him before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the same court.

    This brings to five the charges preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

  • Army officer arraigned with Evans loses bail application

    Army officer arraigned with Evans loses bail application

    An Ikeja high court  yesterday, refused bail to a suspected kidnapper, Victor Aduba, one of the henchmen of billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans.

    Aduba, is the sixth defendant and the army officer who aided Evans activities, in the ongoing kidnap trial of Evans and five others before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

    Justice Oshodi, in ruling declined Aduba’ s request for bail on the ground that the applicant doses not live in Lagos.

    He also noted that he does not have sufficient reasons to warrant bail.

    Justice Oshodi said the court considered the gravity of the offence allegedly committed, the offender’s possibility of interfering with course of trial and his antecedents before arriving at his decision.

    He held that the sixth defendant would constitute a high risk especially having admitted in his statement of being involved in illegal operations where he collects N20,000.

    The offence which the sixth defendant (Aduba ) is standing trial for is a very severe one. It would be wise to hold him in custody for his own safety and protection.

    The judge held that Aduba did not place sufficient material before the court to make the court exercise its discretion in his favour.

    “The bail application is hereby refused and is dismissed,” Justice Oshodi held.

    Aduba, Evans and four others were arraigned before the judge on August 30, 2017 on two charges bordering on conspiracy and kidnapping.

    The other defendants are Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okuchukwu Nwachukwu and Chilaka Ifeanyi.

    Proceedings in case was however could not proceed further yesterday as Evans’ lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, was absent.

    While adjourning the matter till March 16, 2018, following prayer for same by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Titilayo Shita-Bey, the judge said he hoped that the letter written by Ogungbeje to seek an adjournment was not a ploy to frustrate the case.

    Earlier, the judge, in a short ruling, foreclosed the opportunity of the fourth defendant, Nwachukwu, to cross-examine the first prosecution witness, Mr. Anselem Dunu.

    The witness is the elder brother of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, who was allegedly kidnapped by the gang sometime in February this 2017.

    The judge’s decision to foreclose Nwachukwu’s chance of cross-examining Dunu was because he was not willing to cross-examine the witness by himself as he was not represented by any lawyer.

    Prosecuting lead counsel, Shitta-Bey, had urged the court not to allow Nwachukwu’s failure to get a lawyer to stop yesterday’s proceedings.

    She said, “The matter was adjourned for continuation of trial, particularly cross-examination of PW1 by the fourth defendant.

    “That the fourth defendant is not represented by counsel should not prevent the cross-examination of the witness from going on.

    “He has been given ample opportunity by this court to get counsel of his choice.

    “Under Section 36(6)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), he’s entitled to examine the witness either by his counsel or himself.”

    She added that on account of the fourth defendant’s delay to get a lawyer, the case had already suffered many adjournments.

    Counsel for the third and fifth defendants, A.A. Uzochukwu and Joseph Otogbolu, respectively aligned themselves with Shitta-Bey.

    Counsel for the sixth defendant, Emmanuel Ochei, however urged the court to give Nwachukwu further grace to get a lawyer.

    The judge, accepted the submission of Shitta-Bey and others, and directed the court registrar to ask Nwachukwu if he was ready to cross-examine the witness or foreclose his opportunity.

    Responding, Nwachukwu said, “I’m not ready, My Lord.”

    He added that his family had arranged a lawyer for him but he was surprised that the lawyer was not in court.

    Responding, the judge held, “The court does not buy your excuse. It’s been the same excuse that you have been giving the court.”

    Justice Oshodi directed the registrar to ask Nwachukwu once again if he was ready to cross-examine the witness by himself, to which he again replied, “I cannot cross-examine the witness.”

    Consequently, the judge held, “Since the fourth defendant has refused to take up the opportunity to cross-examine the witness, he has forfeited the opportunity.”

    As Shitta-Bey said she had no need to re-examine the witness, Justice Oshodi, consequently, discharged the witness.?

  • Army officer arraigned with Evans loses bail application

    Army officer arraigned with Evans loses bail application

    The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday dismissed a bail application filed by a suspected kidnapper, Victor Aduba, one of the henchmen of billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans.

    Aduba, who is an army officer, is the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial of Evans and five others before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

    He was accused of aiding Evans’ activities.

    Justice Oshodi declined Aduba’ s request for bail on the ground that the applicant doses not live in Lagos.

    The judge also noted that the accused does not have sufficient reasons to get bail.

    Justice Oshodi said the court considered the gravity of the offence, the possibility of the offender interfering with the trial and his antecedents before arriving at the decision.

    He held that the sixth defendant would constitute a high risk especially after admitting involvement in illegal operations where he collected N20,000.

    He said: “The offence which the sixth defendant (Aduba) is standing trial for is a very severe one. It would be wise to hold him in custody for his own safety and protection.”