Kidnapping: Evans’ accomplice loses bid to get bail

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Friday dismissed the bail
application filed by Victor Aduba, who is facing criminal charges
alongside alleged notorious kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike,
alias Evans.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi, in his ruling, said he was persuaded by
the prosecution’s argument that Aduba was a flight risk, more so,
as he had no relation in Lagos.

The judge held that Aduba did not place sufficient material
before the court to make the court exercise its discretion in his
favour.

“The bail application is hereby refused and is dismissed,”
Justice Oshodi held.

Aduba, Evans and four others were arraigned before the judge on
August 30, 2017 on two charges bordering on conspiracy and
kidnapping.

The other defendants are Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu,
Okuchukwu Nwachukwu and Chilaka Ifeanyi.

Proceedings in case was however stalled on Friday as Evans’
lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, was absent.

While adjourning the matter till March 16, 2018, following
prayer for same by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions,
Mrs. Titilayo Shita-Bey, the judge said he hoped that the letter
written by Ogungbeje to seek an adjournment was not a ploy to
frustrate the case.

Earlier, the judge, in a short ruling, foreclosed the
opportunity of the 4th defendant, Nwachukwu, to cross-examine the
first prosecution witness, Mr. Anselem Dunu.

The witness is the elder brother of the Chief Executive Officer
of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, who was allegedly
kidnapped by the gang sometime in February this 2017.

The judge’s decision to foreclose Nwachukwu’s chance of
cross-examining Dunu was based on Nwachukwu’s unwillingness to
cross-examine the witness by himself as he was not represented by
any lawyer on Friday.

The lead prosecuting counsel, Shitta-Bey, had urged the court
not to allow Nwachukwu’s failure to get a lawyer to stop Friday’s
proceedings.

She said, “The matter was adjourned for continuation of trial,
particularly cross-examination of PW1 by the 4th defendant.

“That the 4th defendant is not represented by counsel should not
prevent the cross-examination of the witness from going on.
“He has been given ample opportunity by this court to get counsel
of his choice.

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Friday dismissed the bail
application filed by Victor Aduba, who is facing criminal charges
alongside alleged notorious kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike,
alias Evans.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi, in his ruling, said he was persuaded by
the prosecution’s argument that Aduba was a flight risk, more so,
as he had no relation in Lagos.

The judge held that Aduba did not place sufficient material
before the court to make the court exercise its discretion in his
favour.

“The bail application is hereby refused and is dismissed,”
Justice Oshodi held.

Aduba, Evans and four others were arraigned before the judge on
August 30, 2017 on two charges bordering on conspiracy and
kidnapping.

The other defendants are Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu,
Okuchukwu Nwachukwu and Chilaka Ifeanyi.

Proceedings in case was however stalled on Friday as Evans’
lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, was absent.

While adjourning the matter till March 16, 2018, following
prayer for same by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions,
Mrs. Titilayo Shita-Bey, the judge said he hoped that the letter
written by Ogungbeje to seek an adjournment was not a ploy to
frustrate the case.

Earlier, the judge, in a short ruling, foreclosed the
opportunity of the 4th defendant, Nwachukwu, to cross-examine the
first prosecution witness, Mr. Anselem Dunu.

The witness is the elder brother of the Chief Executive Officer
of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, who was allegedly
kidnapped by the gang sometime in February this 2017.

The judge’s decision to foreclose Nwachukwu’s chance of
cross-examining Dunu was based on Nwachukwu’s unwillingness to
cross-examine the witness by himself as he was not represented by
any lawyer on Friday.

The lead prosecuting counsel, Shitta-Bey, had urged the court
not to allow Nwachukwu’s failure to get a lawyer to stop Friday’s
proceedings.

She said, “The matter was adjourned for continuation of trial,
particularly cross-examination of PW1 by the 4th defendant.

“That the 4th defendant is not represented by counsel should not
prevent the cross-examination of the witness from going on.
“He has been given ample opportunity by this court to get counsel
of his choice.