Evans: Absence Of Judge Stalls Trial

The scheduled trial of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme
Onwuamadike, otherwise known as Evans, was on Monday stalled due to
the absence of the trial Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.

It was gathered that the trial judge, went on an official visit
with the Lagos State Chief Judge.

The matter was therefore adjourned till June 16 for continuation
of trial.

It would be recalled that at the last adjourned date, two
Compact Disks (CDs) showing video recordings of Evans confessing to
his crimes was shown in court.

The video showed Evans confessing to kidnapping of his victims
and to armed robbery within and outside Lagos state.

The clips from the video were played while the Director of
Public Prosecution (DPP), Titi Shitta-Bey was leading a witness,
Inspector Idowu Haruna in evidence in-chief.

Evans disclosed that the ransom collected ranged from $250,000
to $1million depending on the victim.

In the video, Evans was heard giving details of his family
background, how he ran away from home, went into armed robbery and
later kidnapping.

The witness, Haruna asking disclosed that Evans, during
interrogation, gave them names and information about the people he
had kidnapped in Lagos and in other states.

“He confessed that on June 28, 2014, at Saka Street.,
Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos, he was armed with an Ak47 gun and he
kidnapped Mr Sylvanus Ahanonu, taking him to their hideout in a
danfo bus.

“After holding the victim for nine weeks, they contacted his
family demanding $2million. We negotiated with his family and they
agreed to pay $420,000,” adding that the money was paid by
installments.

Haruna stated further that after Sylvanus regained his freedom,
he gave a statement to the police, his wife Mrs Chinyemere Ahanonu,
who negotiated his release and his brother Dominic Ahanonu, who
dropped off the ransom all volunteered statements.

Evans is standing trial with co-defendant, Victor Aduba for four
counts of kidnapping of Sylvanus Ahanonu Afia and for unlawful
possession of firearms.

The scheduled trial of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme
Onwuamadike, otherwise known as Evans, was on Monday stalled due to
the absence of the trial Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.

It was gathered that the trial judge, went on an official visit
with the Lagos State Chief Judge.

The matter was therefore adjourned till June 16 for continuation
of trial.

It would be recalled that at the last adjourned date, two
Compact Disks (CDs) showing video recordings of Evans confessing to
his crimes was shown in court.

The video showed Evans confessing to kidnapping of his victims
and to armed robbery within and outside Lagos state.

The clips from the video were played while the Director of
Public Prosecution (DPP), Titi Shitta-Bey was leading a witness,
Inspector Idowu Haruna in evidence in-chief.

Evans disclosed that the ransom collected ranged from $250,000
to $1million depending on the victim.

In the video, Evans was heard giving details of his family
background, how he ran away from home, went into armed robbery and
later kidnapping.

The witness, Haruna asking disclosed that Evans, during
interrogation, gave them names and information about the people he
had kidnapped in Lagos and in other states.

“He confessed that on June 28, 2014, at Saka Street.,
Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos, he was armed with an Ak47 gun and he
kidnapped Mr Sylvanus Ahanonu, taking him to their hideout in a
danfo bus.

“After holding the victim for nine weeks, they contacted his
family demanding $2million. We negotiated with his family and they
agreed to pay $420,000,” adding that the money was paid by
installments.

Haruna stated further that after Sylvanus regained his freedom,
he gave a statement to the police, his wife Mrs Chinyemere Ahanonu,
who negotiated his release and his brother Dominic Ahanonu, who
dropped off the ransom all volunteered statements.

Evans is standing trial with co-defendant, Victor Aduba for four
counts of kidnapping of Sylvanus Ahanonu Afia and for unlawful
possession of firearms.