BY SEGUN FATUASE
LAGOS – A Lagos high court has sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike , also known as Evans to life imprisonment for conspiracy and kidnapping .
In a three-hour judgement, Justice Hakeem Oshodi sentenced Evans and two of his accomplices, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu to life imprisonment on a two-count chargec of conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Duru, Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
The judge held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges against the three convicts beyond any reasonable doubt.
In his verdict on Evans, the judge held that he observed the demeanour of the witness, stating that in some of the confessional videos played in court, Evans had mentioned some of the other defendants and the roles they played in the crime.
“He was seen freely laughing and willingly answered questions. A close look at his body shows no sign of torture. He did not look unkempt. He is seen laughing even when he was told that he must be a rich kidnapper,” Justice Oshodi said.
“He showed no remorse in the dock and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence.”
He concluded that the evidence tendered before the court especially their video confessions corroborated their guilt.
The court however discharged and acquitted Ogechi Uchechukwu and two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
