Billionaire Kidnapper Evans, 2 Others, Plead Guilty To Kidnapping Charge
The alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans Wednesday pleaded guilty to a two count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping brought against him by the Lagos State government.
Evans, who was arraigned before vacation judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja pleaded guilty to the charge alongside two of his co-accused.
Also arraigned with him are Uche Amadi, Ogechi Izechukwu, Okechukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and one Victor Chukwunonso.
While Amadi and Nwachukwu pleaded guilty to both counts, Ifeanyi, Chukwunonso and Izevhukwu, the only female among them, pleaded not guilty.
The two count charge relates specifically to the kidnap of one Donatus Dunu in the Ilupeju area of Lagos.
The Lagos State prosecution team, led by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, in the charge stated that the defendants committed the alleged offence between February 14 and April 12, 2017.
Kazeem also claimed that the incident took place at about 7:45pm, along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.
He alleged that on April 12, Evans, alongside the other five defendants, while armed with guns and other weapons recovered, detained and collected a ransom of 223,000 Euros from one Duru Donatus for his release.
The prosecutor further maintained that the offences committed are punishable under Sections 411 and 271 (3) of the Criminal law cap C17 laws of Lagos State, 2015.
After the plea of the accused persons were taken, Kazeem urged the court for a trial date and for all accused to be remanded in prison custody.
Counsel to the first, second, third and fifth accused persons, Olukoya Ogungbeje said he would not be opposing the adjournment.
He however said, “The defence team was only able to meet our clients this morning in court. We were just served the document in the open court this morning and 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 clients as this is a capital offence,” Ogungbeje submitted.
With no objections from the defence counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje, Justice Oshodi ordered that all the male defendants be remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Prison while the female defendant is to be remanded at the Female wing of the Prison.
The court thereafter adjourned till October 19 for commencement of trial.