Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans
The Lagos State Government has re-arraigned convicted billionaire notorious kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, for the alleged killing of two police officers.
Evans was re-arraigned on Monday before Justice A. O. Ogala of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, alongside his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, on a five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the prosecution, Evans and his co-defendant allegedly murdered Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi, two police officers, on August 27, 2013, in the Festac area of Lagos.
They were also accused of attempting to kidnap Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors, during the same operation.
The case, which was initially before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, was reassigned following her retirement. It has now come under Justice Ogala’s docket for the continuation of the trial.
Evans and Emeka had at some point explored a plea bargain arrangement with the prosecution, though it was not finalised.
Both men remain in custody at the Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre following their conviction in earlier kidnapping cases.
Evans, who gained popularity as one of Nigeria’s most infamous kidnappers, is already serving a life sentence handed down in February 2022 by Justice Akeem Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court.
He was convicted alongside two others for the kidnapping of Donatus Dunu, Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, in February 2017.
The prosecution had told the court that Evans and his gang abducted Dunu and collected £223,000 (about N100m) as ransom before he escaped from captivity.
The convicted kidnapper is currently facing multiple trials across different courts in Lagos for various offences, including murder and conspiracy to kidnap.
Source: TheWhistler | Read the Full Story…