Evans and others in court today

Evans (real name, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike), one of the worst kidnappers this side of the Atlantic, was docked at an Ikeja High Court Wednesday for kidnapping. When he was asked, he said he was guilty of the charge.

He was nit the only one dragged to court. Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okwuchukwu Nwachuckwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba were also arraigned on a two count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping, proferred against them by Lagos State. Evans, the second and fourth defendants pleaded guilty, while the third, fifth and sixth defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Adeniji Kazeem, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who led the Lagos State prosecution said the accused persons committed the alleged offence between February 14 and and April 12, 2017. He said that the incident took place at about 7:45pm, along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos. Kazeem, also stated that on April 12, Evans alongside the other five defendants while armed with guns and other weapons captured, detained and collected a ransom of 223,000 Euros from one Duru Donatus for his release. According to the prosecutor the offences committed is punishable under Sections 411 and 271 (3) of the Criminal law cap C17 laws of Lagos State 2015.

However when the charge was read to the defendants the second and fourth defendants pleaded not guilty to the two count charges against them, but Evans said: “My Lord am guilty”. Kazeem, thereafter asked Justice Hakeem Oshodi to remand the defendants in prison custody. He said ” We would be asking for remand in custody and also for an adjournment to take trial for those that pleaded not guilty, so that we can come back for facts and sentence of the ones that pleaded guilty”.

Olukoya Ogunbeje, the defendants’ lawyer said: “We would not be opposing the adjournment. The defence team has just had the opportunity of meeting our clients this morning in court. We were just served the document in the open court this morning. Thirdly all the defendants have since been in the custody of the Police and we have not had the opportunity of conferring with them regarding the offences which are capital in nature. We would like to ask for an adjournment to confer with our clients. Before the next adjourned date we would have confirmed with our client as this is a capital offence.”

Before the adjournment Justice Oshodi, according to Vanguard, asked Kazem, which choice of the prisons he wanted and the AG said kirikiri Maximum Prison. However Justice Oshodi remanded the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants in Kirikiri Maximum prison, while the third defendant was remanded in the female wing of Kirikiri Prisons custody. He adjourned the case to October 19, for trial.

ptember 017 for hearing of the application.