Alleged Kidnapping: Lawyer’s Absence Stalls Evans’ Re-Arraignment

The Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has adjourned till May 17 for the re-arraignment of convicted “billionaire kidnapper” Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (aka Evans) on kidnapping-related charges.

Justice Sherifat Sonaike fixed the date due to the absence of Evans’ lawyer.

Evans was scheduled to appear before the judge almost five years after he and his alleged accomplices were arraigned and trial commenced on two kidnapping-related charges before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Igbosere High Court, Lagos.

Following Justice Akintoye’s retirement from the bench, the case file was transferred to Justice Sonaike.

At the commencement of proceedings Wednesday, Mr. M.A Olateju announced appearance for the prosecution, while L. Onyejiaka announced for the second defendant, P.O. Ogundele for the third defendant and O. Egbobo for the fourth defendant.

Counsel for Evans – the first defendant – was absent.

The judge noted that since the trial had already commenced before another judge, there was no need to start the proceedings afresh.

Justice Sonaike said: “When a matter is de novo, it does not mean we start the whole process again. For criminal matters you already have your evidence, the state also has theirs. We do not have to start serving unlike when the court is sitting for the first time.”

Nevertheless, she stated that the case would have to be adjourned following the absence of the first defendant’s counsel.

The kidnap kingpin was arrested on June 10, 2017.

Evans was in 2018 arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court for kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Donatus Dunu on February 14, 2017, and collecting 223,000 Euros as ransom from his family

Justice Oshodi, on February 25, 2022, found Evans and two others guilty of kidnapping.

The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Evans was also arraigned for kidnapping before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Igbosere High Court, before the judge was transferred to the Ikeja division.

He and his co-defendant Victor Aduba were accused of conspiring and kidnapping Sylvanus Ahanonu Hafia at about 5:30pm on June 23, 2014, at Kara Street, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos and were alleged to have captured and detained Hafia and demanded a ransom of $2million.

Justice Taiwo on September 19, 2022, sentenced the duo to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping Hafia.

On March 16, 2023, Evans alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Okapara Linus were arraigned afresh by the Lagos State Government before Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court, TBS.

The defendants are being tried on a five-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder for allegedly kidnapping Chief James Uduji and extorting a ransom of $1.2million from him.

The case is one of the two kidnapping-related case files transferred from judge emeritus Justice Akintoye.