Kidnap Kingpin Case Stalled at High Court

The arraignment of  the alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, at an Igbosere High Court in Lagos on fresh charges, was on Friday stalled for the second time because of the absence of  his lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje.

 The Lagos State Government had slammed a fresh five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder on Evans, before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this particular arraignment was first stalled on Nov. 13, because the defendant's counsel was not served with the fresh information, adding that one of the newly joined defendant had no legal representative.

However, Evans, who was arrested on June 10, was in this particular charge, brought to court alongside three other defendants -Joseph Emeka, Okpara Linus and Victor Aduba.

When the case came up on Friday, the Prosecutor, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, told the court that the case was for arraignment but asked that the case be adjourned.

"This matter is for the arraignment of the defendants, unfortunately due to the absence of Evans' counsel,  I don't think it will be possible.

"Ogungbeje just brought a letter to the court this morning stating that he is at the court of appeal and asking for a stand down of the matter till noon.

"We don't know when he wiil be here, even when he comes, the third defendant's counsel, Mr Jude Igbanoi, is new to this matter and will need time to familiarise himself with the proof of evidence.

"I therefore ask the court for a short adjournment to enable counsel study the proof of evidence," Shitta-Bey said.

However, all the defendants' counsel, Mr Ogedi Ogu, Igbanoi and  Emmanuel Ochai, did not object to the adjournment. 

Igbanoi, who is representing Linus the third defendant,  had earlier informed the court that he is new to the case and would need time to familiarise himself with the proof of evidence.

NAN reports that a second charge was called, in that charge, Evans, was charged alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba – they are facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy to kidnapping.

Justice  Akintoye, after listening to the arguments, adjourned all the cases until Jan. 22, 2018 for hearing.

NAN recalls that on Nov. 13, when the case first came up for arraignment, Evans’ counsel, and the second defendant’s counsel, informed the court that they were not served with the information.

They also informed the court that one of the defendants did not have a legal representative.

NAN also reports that Evans was sometime in August arrainged before Justice Hakeem Oshodi  at an Ikeja High Court.

He has also been arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Igbosere High Court, Lagos (NAN)