Friday, December 6, 2024
Home Judiciary Court Sentences Kidnapper Evans, Two Others To Life Imprisonment

Court Sentences Kidnapper Evans, Two Others To Life Imprisonment

The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has sentenced kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans and two others, Uchenna Amadi and Okuchuwkwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi handed out the sentence to the trio on Friday after convicting them on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Duru.

The victim is the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

In convicting the trio, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge against them beyond a reasonable doubt.

In reaching his verdict on Evans, the judge held that he observed the demeanour of the witness, stating that in some of the confessional videos played in court, Evans had mentioned some of the other defendants and the roles they played in the crime.

“He was seen freely laughing and willingly answered questions. A close look at his body shows no sign of torture. He did not look unkempt. He is seen laughing even when he was told that he must be a rich kidnapper,” Justice Oshodi said.

“He showed no remorse in the dock and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence.”

He concluded that the evidence tendered before the court especially their video confessions corroborated their guilt.

The court discharged and acquitted Ogechi Uchechukwu and two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.

The Lagos State government had arraigned Evans alongside Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, and Victor Aduba for allegedly kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu, on February 14, 2017.

The state had claimed that the convicts committed the alleged offence between February 14 and April 12, 2017.

The prosecution had further told the court that the incident took place at about 7:45 pm, along Obokun Street, in the Ilupeju area of Lagos.

The prosecution told the court that on April 12, Evans alongside the other five defendants while armed with guns and other weapons captured, detained and collected a ransom of 223,000 euros from Donatus for his release.

The Lagos State government subsequently arraigned the defendants before the court in August 2017.

In all, the prosecution presented four witnesses, including the victim, Dunu while the defence presented six witnesses including Evans who testified in his own defence.

Evans is also facing similar charges before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the same court.

RELATED ARTICLES

Court Grants Emefiele N20m Bail

The Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has granted bail to the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in...

Tribunal Declares Oyetola Winner Of Osun Guber Poll

Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, the State capital, has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adegboyega Oyetola,...

Keyamo drags Atiku to court over alleged corruption

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Festus Keyamo, has filed a writ of summons at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the presidential candidate...

Most Popular

CISLAC Urges National Assembly to Prioritise Equity, Transparency in Nigeria Tax Bill 2024

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has been at the forefront of advocating for fiscal policy reforms that address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges while...

President Tinubu congratulates new NUJ leadership

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Alhassan Yahaya on his election as the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the 8th Triennial...

Nigerian Army ‘Detains’ Investigative Journalist, Fisayo Soyombo

An investigative journalist and publisher of an online newspaper, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Fisayo Soyombo was arrested and detained by the 6 Division...

Governor Inuwa Yahaya Celebrates Alhassan’s Emergence as NUJ National President

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has congratulated Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi on his election as the National President of the Nigeria Union...

Recent Comments