Admin l Wednesday, April 10, 2019
IGBOSERE, Lagos, Nigeria – There was a mild drama today at a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere when lawyers representing, suspected kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans when the lawyer representing him boycotted the sitting. There was no letter to the court to explain the reason for the absence forcing Justice Adedayo Akintoye to order him to get a legal representative before the next court sitting.
Evans’ counsel, Mr Chino Obiagwu (SAN), for the third time in a row boycotted the trial and in the process stalled procedings. Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba and Linus Okpara.
However, Evans himself told the court, “the last time we spoke, he told me that he will appear on the next sitting”.
However, the Prosecutor, Mr Y. G. Oshoala, prayed the court to invoke Section 233 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) which empowers the court to appoint a counsel for the defendant. e said: “Where the defendant fails to secure legal representation, the court has the discretion to order the legal aid counsel to provide a representation for the defendant.
“This is the third time this matter is called and the first (Evans) defendant is not represented”. he court, however, advised Evans to ensure that he got a legal representative before the next adjourned date. Justice Akintoye said, “If your lawyers don’t want to appear, we cannot force them.
“You have three options, you can get another lawyer to represent you or the court can appoint one for you or you can defend yourself. This is last day I will give you to get a lawyer”. Akintoye, however, adjourned the case until May 17 for continuation of trial.
Recalled that on Jan. 16, during a trial within trial, Evans denied the confessional statement he made to the police after his arrest in 2017, saying it was made under duress.
Evans told the court that he signed the statement under duress to save him from being tortured to death. Evans gave details of how members of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team led by Abba Kyari allegedly tortured and killed several others, who were paraded alongside him in his presence.
However, Evans, was cross-examined by the Lagos State Counsel to prove that his statement was not taken under duress
