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Tag: Victor Aduba

  • Evans: Absence of defence counsel stall trial

    The trial of alleged Kidnap Kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike also known as Evans before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere was stalled on Monday due to the absence of his lawyer from the court.

    At the resumed proceedings on Monday, the court was informed that Evans’ counsel Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku sent in a letter that he would not be available and asked for an adjournment.

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

    At the last adjourned date, a fifth prosecution witness, Izuchukwu Ezeuko, had told the court of how he travelled from Lagos to Eastern part of the country to drop $1 million ransom to the alleged kidnappers of his employer.

    Ezeuko, a manager in the firm of the victim of the alleged kidnap kingpin, Mr James Uduji, had made the revelation while giving evidence before Justice Akintoye.

    He had also told the court that he agreed to travel from Lagos to the east to drop the ransom in order to save his boss’ life.

    Ezeuko had narrated to the court how he paid $1 million ransom in two tranches of $800, 000 and $200,000 dollars to the kidnappers of his employer.

    Led in evidence in Chief by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Lagos State Mr Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), Ezeuko had told the court that on September 7, 2015, his employer came to the factory at Agbara as he usually does, adding that at about 5.00pm he received a call that his employer who had left the factory for home was kidnapped.

    Read Also: Two suspected cultists face robbery, theft charge

    However, after some weeks of the alleged kidnap on October 10, 2015, he got a call from somebody on a private number, who said he should speak with his boss.

    “My boss then spoke to me and said if I want him alive, I should go to the east to deliver money to the alleged kidnappers.

    “I went to FESTAC and met Mr Edwin Uduji, the victim’s brother, who arranged the first $800, 000 for me to travel with.

    “On October 11, which was the next day, I drove down to the east with the victim’s elder sister, in the east, a voice gave us instructions on how to drop the money,” Ezeuko said.

    Another witness, Sergeant Kingsley Harold had also given evidence in the first charge in which Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba, for alleged kidnap of Mr Donatus.

    Harold who was led by Dr Jide Martins said after Evans was arrested, he was asked to make a statement at the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS)office Ikeja but Evans said he was not too good in writing.

    The case has been adjourned till October 24, for continuation of trial.

  • ‘Evans shot me, pretended to be a doctor’

    A prosecution witness, Chief James Uduji, on Friday 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.

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

    Led in Examination-in-Chief 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 a bullet wounds,” he explained.

    Uduji said the kidnappers called a doctor on phone who treated his bullet wound 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.

    Uduji told the court that the ransom was paid in three instalments by his brothers, adding that he was released eight days after the ransom was paid.

    The witness was cross-examined by all the defendants’ counsel, Mr Olarewaju Ajanaku who represented Evans, Mr Ogedi Ogu who represented the second defenant and Mr Emmanuel Ochai for the fourth defendant.

    Ajanaku observed that the specific date when Uduji was released from the kidnappers was not mentioned in the statement he made at the police station.

    He also stated that the date which the witness told the court that he made the statement at the police station was different from the date contained in the statement.

    Read Also: Judge angry over delay in Evans’ trial

    According to the charge, the defendants also allegedly fired shots at Mr Donatus Nwoye which hit him on the hand.
    The court heard that they also shot Jereome Okezie, Uduji’s driver, on the hand and head.

    At the conclusion of Uduji’s testimony, the prosecution called Jerome Okezie, as its second witness.
    Okezie testified that he sustained bullet wounds from the kidnappers’ gun shots, adding that he pretended to be dead after he was shot.

    He said he was taken to the hospital by some people after the kidnappers took his boss away.

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

    Justice Akintoye adjourned further proceedings till September 17.

  • 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 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

  • Again, Evans says court can’t try him

    Suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on Friday asked a Lagos High Court in Igbosere to quash all the five charges filed against him by the 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 last June 10 in his Magodo, Lagos mansion.
    But only two charges are before Justice Akintoye. Three multiple-count charges are before Justices Hakeem Oshodi and Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja High Court.

    Read Also: Video of Evans confession for kidnapping shown in 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.
    At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Evans’ counsel, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, argued that all the charges were “grossly defective, repetitive and an 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 counts.
    “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 charge because it is defective and an 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 stated that 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.
    Shitta-Bey further explained that other charges filed against the first defendant before other judges involved different defendants committing differnt offences against different victims at different locations and times.
    She urged the court to dismiss the application.
    Shitta-Bey also countered the application of the third defendant, Linus Okpara, in the second charge, which urged the court to quash the two-count charge preferred against him, on the ground that it disclosed no prima facie case.
    She said the proof of evidence disclosed where the third defendant admitted collecting the sum of N2 million for the first defendant in relation to one of the victims, Uche Okorafor.
    “I, therefore, urge the court to discountenance the third defendant’s argument,” the DPP said.
    Justuce Akintoye adjourned till June 26 for ruling.
  • 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.”

     

  • Evans: Lagos court to hear application to quash charge Feb. 28

    Evans: Lagos court to hear application to quash charge Feb. 28

    The late arrival of the defence counsel on Monday again stalled the arraignment of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, on fresh charges at an Igbosere High Court in Lagos.

    The Lagos State Government had brought a fresh five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder against Evans and three others.

    The three accused standing trial along with Evans are Emeka Joseph, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    The arraignment was first stalled on Nov. 13, because Evans’s counsel was not served with the fresh information.

    Also, one of the three persons charged along with Evans had no legal representation.

    However, on the second date of adjournment, the defence counsel was absent in court.

    When the case came up on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the court that the business of the day was arraignment.

    She, however, said Evans’ counsel, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, was not yet in court, adding that an application seeking to quash the charge was served on them by the defence.

    Other defendants’ counsel — Messers Ogedi Ogu, Emmanuel Ochai and Jude Igbanoi — were all present in court and they acknowledged the application seeking to quash the charge.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye, however, adjourned the case until Feb. 28 for the hearing of the application to quash charge.

    NAN also reports that the alleged kidnap kingpin was arrested on June 10 and was in August arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at an Ikeja High Court for kidnapping.

    He has also been arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who has been transferred to the Ikeja Division. (NAN)

  • Evans: Court adjourns continuation of trial to March 2

    Evans: Court adjourns continuation of trial to March 2

    The trial Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, and his alleged accomplices, was on Friday adjourned until March 2, an Ikeja High Court has ruled.

    The trial was adjourned due partly to the fact that Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, a co-defendant, had yet to secure legal representation.

    Mr Anselm Dunu, the brother of Mr Donatius Dunu, a victim, was scheduled to be cross-examined on Friday by the defence counsel.

    He was, however, not fully cross-examined by the defence because of the absence of Nwachukwu’s lawyer.

    Evans and Nwachukwu are standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

    During Friday’s proceedings, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, the judge inquired from Nwachukwu (the fourth defendant),why he did not have a legal representation.

    “My Lord, we are still making arrangements for a lawyer,” he said.

    Registering her displeasure, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), urged the court to proceed with the trial, noting that it was a ploy by the defence to delay proceedings.

    She said: “On the last adjourned date which was Nov. 17, 2017, this court inquired from the fourth defendant on how long it will take for him to engage a counsel to represent him in this matter and he requested for two weeks.

    “Here we are in Jan. 19, 2018, still no legal representation.

    “My learned friend, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, who appeared for the first and second defendants, had previously announced his appearance for the fourth defendant.

    “He thereafter withdrew his appearance on the grounds that the fourth defendant was yet to perfect his brief.

    “Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution provides that a defendant is entitled to counsel of his choice and he can also represent himself if he so wishes.”

    According to Shitta-Bey, there is a Supreme Court pronouncement on the matter of delays or where there is a deliberate attempt to delay proceedings in court.

    “The duty of the court is to assert its control over proceedings and not to permit either of the parties to impose a state of helplessness on the court.

    “Where a party has been given ample opportunity by the court to secure representation, the court cannot wait forever or delay proceedings forever.

    “The court can assign a counsel to take up the defence of the defendant,” she told the court.

    The DPP also submitted that a speedy trial is fundamental in the speedy dispensation of justice and noted that Ogungbeje could represent Nwachukwu and commence the cross-examination of Dunu.

    Ogungbeje, however denied trying to delay the trial, saying the family of Nwachukwu met us and they promised that they will perfect our brief in a week or two.

    “In the circumstance, I will like to say that it is not the fourth defendant’s (Nwachukwu) fault that he did not have a counsel; his new counsel, Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaku, withdrew from the case.”

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi ordered that the defence counsel present in court should cross-examine Dunu.

    Dunu, while being cross-examined by Ogungbeje, told the court that he did not know the persons who were given the N100 million ransom for his brother’s release.

    “I spoke to some unknown voices, I don’t know if the voices belong to the first and second defendants (Evans and Amadi).

    “I did not hand over the ransom, I did not know the persons the ransom was given to, but I know the person who gave the instructions of whom the money should be given to.

    “The strange voices told me what to do in order to release my brother, I only met the first and second defendants for the first time in the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

    “I made my statement to the police sometime in June but I did not mention the names of the first and second defendant because I did not know their names then.

    “In my statement, I said I did not suspect anyone in the kidnap of my brother. The voices I spoke to during the ransom negotiations were muffled,” he said.

    NAN reports that on Nov. 3, 2017 Dunu had in his examination-in- Chief told the court that the defendants had demanded one million Euros as ransom for the release of his younger brother,
    Mr Donatius Dunu.

    Donatius was kidnapped on Feb. 14, 2017 along Obokun Road, Ilupeju, Lagos and his family reportedly paid N100 million ransom to secure his release.

    After Dunu left the witness box, Mr Emmanuel Uchai, a defence counsel for Aduba, one of Evan’s co-defendants, applied orally for his bail.

    “I am seeking an order for the bail for the sixth defendant (Aduba). The bedrock of the criminal justice system is the assumption of innocence subject to the discretionary powers of the court.

    “There is nothing linking the sixth defendant to the kidnap of Donatius Dunu, he has no prior criminal record.

    “The prosecution argued that some members of the gang are still at large but there is nothing in the charge before the court that suggests it.

    “I wish to appeal that the sixth defendant be granted bail on liberal terms which can allow him attend trial and not punish him,” he said.

    Objecting to the application, Shitta-Bey told the court that she had a 15-page counter-affidavit and a written address to that effect.

    Citing the Supreme Court case of Asari Dokubo Vs the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the DPP said that Aduba should be denied bail in the interest of the public.

    “This is a serious offence and it is not going to guarantee the peace and tranquility of the society and there is no material evidence before the court guaranteeing this.

    “I pray the court to refuse the defendant’s bail and dismiss this bail application,” she said.

    Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until March 2 for ruling on the bail application and the cross-examination of Dunu.

    NAN

  • ‘How we paid Evans N100m to secure my brother’s release’

    ‘How we paid Evans N100m to secure my brother’s release’

    An Ikeja high court heard on Friday that notorious and billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, collected N100million as ransom from the family of his victim, Donatus Duru.

    The elder brother of Donatus, Anslem Duru disclosed this at the opening of the trial of  Evans and five others before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

    Apart from Evans, other defendants are Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

    They are facing a two count charge bordering on conspiracy and kidnapping before Justice Oshodi.

    They pleaded not guilty

    Mr Anselem Dunu, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, said the N100m was changed to €223,000, which was the currency that the kidnappers demanded.

    Donatus Dunu, who was kidnapped sometime in February this year at Ilupeju, Lagos.

    Anselem who is the prosecution lead witness mounted the witness box at about 3:55 pm told the court that his brother was not released until the family had paid the N100m ransom demanded by Evans.

    Earlier when the trial opened, the  State Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bay, who led the state prosecution team, asked Anselem if he recognised the defendants in the dock.

    The witness said he recognised the fourth defendant,  Nwachukwu, whom he had always known, and Evans, who he said he met later in the course of the investigation by the police.

    Before trial commenced, Evans, Amadi and Ifeanyi attempted to stall trial by raising objections and questioning the competence of the charges. But Justice Oshodi,  in three separate rulings, dismissed their applications.

    He described the defendants’ objections as misconceived and dismissed them.

    Led by Shitta-Bey, Anselm in his testimony, gave an account of the harrowing experience that the family went through when Donatus was kidnapped and how they struggled to raise N100m to secure his release.

    He said after the kidnapping, the hoodlums stopped contacting the family till about two weeks after, when he got a call, from a hidden number on his mobile phone.

    ” When I picked the call, it was Donatus agitated voice that I heard. He was pleading that the family should immediately go and withdraw all the funds in his bank account and deliver same to the kidnappers to prevent them from taking his life.

    “Donatus told me the kidnappers insisted on a ransom of €1m, but the family could only raise N100million which was converted to €223,000 and delivered to them”.

    According to him, one  Uchenna Okafor, took the money already packed in cellophane bags in a Honda car and headed towards Oshodi at about 7:45 pm on the agreed date and as instructed by the kidnappers.

    Anselem said Okafor did not return until about 11 pm on the said date, adding that it was not until about two weeks after then that he got the news of Donatus’ release.

    He said when Donatus was released, “he looked terribly emaciated. He had not shaved for a long time and he looked just like the early man.”

    Justice Oshodi adjourned till November 17 for Anselem’s cross-examination by the defence.

    Meanwhile, the court considered an application, seeking the release of the third defendant on bail on health grounds and adjourned till November 17 for the ruling.

    Earlier, Evans’ lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, told the court that he had also filed an application for Evans to be released on bail.

    Ogungbeje also told the court that his other application seek to quash the charges against his client.

    But the DPP opposed it,  describing  Evans’s application for bail and quashing of charges as “conflicting, confusing and an abuse of court processes.”‎

    Justice Oshodi declined to hear the applications.

    Earlier, the DPP had described Evans’s application for bail and accelerated hearing, filed along with an application to quash the charges as “conflicting, confusing and an abuse of court processes.”‎

  • Breaking: I’m not guilty – Evans

    Breaking: I’m not guilty – Evans

    Guilt-racked kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on Thursday made a U-turn as he entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ as he was re-arraigned on a two-count amended charge of conspiracy and kidnapping at an Ikeja High Court.

    Evans had at his arraignment on Aug. 30 plead guilty to the charges, while other alleged accomplices — Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, the only female defendant, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba denied committing the offences.

    They were charged with the kidnap of Mr Donatius Duru on Aug. 30.

    The punishment section in the second count of amended charge was changed from Section 271 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State to Section 2(1) of the Kidnap Prohibition Law of the Laws of Lagos 2017.

    According to the prosecution led by Ms. P.K. Shitta-bey, the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Evans and his accomplices committed the offence of conspiracy at 7.45 p.m. on Feb. 14 on Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.

    The prosecution said the defendants between Feb. 14 and April 12 at Obokun Street, Ilupeju, while armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, captured and detained Duru.

    The defendants allegedly collected a ransom of 223,000 euros for the release of Donatius.

    Before the amended charges were read to the defendants, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, the counsel to Evans and Amadi had opposed the reading of the charges to them.

    “On behalf of the first and second defendants, we were served with the amended charge this morning.

    “My Lord, we had earlier filed an application and the learned prosecutor also filed us a counter-affidavit, My Lord, grant us a very short date to ‘confer’ with the first and second defendants about this amended charge.

    “We intend bringing a motion after their plea, I urge your Lordship to grant us a very short date,” Ogungbeje pleaded.

    Mr Joseph Otogbolu, counsel to Uchechukwu, Mr A.A Uzokwu, counsel to Ifeanyi and Mr Emmanuel Ochai, counsel to Aduba,  all aligned with the submission of Ogungbeje and asked for an adjournment to ‘confer’ with the defendants.

    Mr O. Ajanaku, counsel to Nwachukwu, however, did not oppose the reading of the amended charge to the defendants.

    “I am not opposing the charges being read to the defendants, the only change in the charge is just the law and the punishment section.

    “I am ready for the charge to be taken and to go on with the trial,” he said.

    Shitta-bey, however, opposed the request for adjournment by the counsel to the defendants.

    “I will be opposing the application for adjournment, the court should allow the charges to be read to them and their pleas taken.

    “Section 155(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State does not allow any formal application from the prosecution to amend charges.

    “All the court needs to do is to take fresh pleas from the defendants,” he said.

    The DPP also told the court that the state was ready to proceed with the trial and that three witnesses were already in court to testify.

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi stood down the case for 45 minutes till 11.45 a.m. to enable the counsel ‘confer’ with the defendants.

    Earlier, proceedings took an interesting turn when a dispute arose between Ogungbeje and Ajanaku after they had announced separate appearances to represent Nwachukwu, the fourth defendant.

    “We are the counsel in record for the fourth defendant, if a new counsel in form of my legal colleague is coming into this matter, he should have filed the proper applications.”

    Responding to Ogungbeje, Ajanaku said: “The last time this case came up, as a matter of expediency, my learned colleague appeared in court for some of the defendants in the case.

    “Not too long ago, I was approached by the family of the fourth defendant to stand in for him which he can attest to.

    “This is a criminal matter, if my learned friend is offended I apologise; I approached him this morning in court as I don’t know his address.”

    In resolving the issue, Justice Oshodi told the court that Nwachukwu should be asked who is his counsel of choice because under the law, a defendant in criminal matters is entitled to a counsel of his choice.

    When asked who was his preferred counsel, Nwachukwu said “It is Ajanaku.”

    When the court resumed after the stand-down, the charges were read to the defendants and their pleas were taken.

    Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until Nov. 3 to enable the defence to prepare for trial.

    NAN