Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, was re-arraigned on Thursday, Jan. 30, before an Ikeja High Court over the murder of two police officers and the attempted kidnapping of Chief Obianodo Vincent, the owner of Young Shall Grow Transport Company.
Evans was arraigned alongside his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, on a five-count charge of murder and attempted kidnapping before Justice Adenike Coker.
They pleaded not guilty.
Recall that Evans, who is facing multiple cases of kidnapping and armed robbery, had earlier been convicted and jailed by two Lagos courts.
In February 2022, an Ikeja High Court Judge, Hakeem Oshodi, sentenced him to life imprisonment for the kidnap of Chief Donatus Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
In September 2022, another judge of the court, Oluwatoyin Taiwo (now retired), sentenced Evans to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping a businessman, Chief Slyvanus Ahamonu, and collecting $420,000 as ransom from his family.
Evans is still standing trial in two other kidnapping cases.
The trial suffered setback on October 10, 2024 when Evans’ counsel was absent in court.
There are indication that Evans might plea guilty to the amended charges as the prosecution had early informed the court that the he had applied for plea bargain.
