LAGOS (Sundiata Post) – The Lagos High Court Sitting in Ikeja has adjourned till November 21st for the arraignment and plea bargain outcome of convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.
Justice Adenike Coker adjourned proceedings following the absence of Evans and his counsel in court.
The prosecution, the Lagos State Government was also absent.
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emekam are facing an amended five-count charge of murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.
At the last sitting of the court on May 11, the prosecution counsel, Yusuf Sule, informed the court that the defendants had opted for a plea bargain agreement.
He also said that the plea bargain terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro (SAN).
When the case was however called on Thursday, the counsel to Evans’s co-defendant, Nelson Onyejaka, who was present in court, informed the judge that he was surprised that the prosecution and the first defendant’s counsel were not present
He said, “I do not know whether they are aware that the case is coming up today.
“But we are still going on with the plea bargain my lord.”
Justice Coker ordered that a production warrant be issued for the arraignment of the defendants on Nov. 21. She also adjourned for a report on the plea bargain outcome.
Apart from this case, Evans also has two other outstanding cases pending before Justices Serifat Sonaike and Ibironke Harrison, both of the Lagos High Court.
In February 2022, Justice Hakeem Oshodi sentenced him to life imprisonment for the kidnapping of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Donatus Dunu.
In September 2022, another judge of the court, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, also sentenced Evans to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping a businessman, Slyvanus Ahamonu, and collecting $420,000 as ransom from his family.
