Admin l Friday, June 17, 2022
IKEJA, Lagos – Kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans who was being conveyed to court today ended up not arriving the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos when the vehicle conveying him went up in flames.
Although the nature of the fire incident was not disclosed, all we know is that Evans could not get to court and in the process stalling proceedings before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo. The severity of the fire incident on Evans was not explained in court.
The court was also not told if the defendant has been rushed to hospital hence his absence. Evans is standing trial alongside alongside Joseph Emeka for attempted kidnap of the chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo.
The court had on June 15 fixed Friday to hear the evidence of Obianodo, via zoom. At the beginning of proceedings of Friday, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said that there was a fire incident which affected the transportation of the defendants.
“I was informed by the Officer in Charge of legal (OC) that there was fire incident which affected the transportation of the defendants. For security reasons, the defendants cannot be present in court,” the judge said.
Oluwatoyin adjourned the case until July 25 for trial. The court had on March 11 ordered Evans to engage a lawyer before the next date of adjournment or be ready to defend himself.
Frank Udeme, one of the co-defendants of Evans had been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on March 11. Udeme had pleaded guilty to selling firearms to Evans.
According to the prosecution, Evans and Emeka committed the offence on Aug. 27, 2013, at Third Avenue in Festac Town, Lagos. Evans and his accomplice are alleged to have killed one Ngozi Chijioke and attempted to kidnap and kill Obianodo.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms over the attempted kidnap of Obianodo. The sister case before Taiwo has also been adjourned until July 25 for the second defendant to open his defense.
The court had on June 15 rejected the submission of the new counsel to Evans, Mr Amobi Nzelu to postpone the trial. Evans is standing trial along Victor Aduba, an ex-soldier for allegedly kidnapping a businessman, Mr Sylvanus Ahamonu, and collecting a 420,000 dollars ransom from his family.
Evans had on Feb. 4 opened his defence and denied kidnapping Ahamonu and collecting 420,000 dollars ransom from his family.
