Trial Of Kidnap Kingpin, Evans, Stalled Again, Judge Kicks

The trial of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans,
has once again been adjourned due to the absence of his counsel in
court.

The trial, which has been in process for about four years now,
was earlier slated for Friday and was presided over by Justice
Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

Evans, along with his co-defendants, Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu
Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, had
previously been arraigned before Justice Oshodi on August 31, 2017
on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

The gang was alleged to have kidnapped Donatus Dunu, the
Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Dunu was kidnapped on Ilupeju Road, Lagos State, on February 14,
2017 and the defendants allegedly collected €223,000 as ransom from
Dunu’s family.

The trial had experienced several delays in the past due to
varying factors and Friday has not be the first time Evans appeared
in court without his counsel.

On November 24, 2017, Evans’ counsel failed to appear before the
Igbosere High Court in Lagos and the matter was adjourned until
January 22, 2018 for hearing.

Again, on January 22, 2018, the late arrival of Evans’ counsel
stalled the court proceedings as the counsel only walked in when
the case had been adjourned. The matter was then adjourned until
February 28, 2018.

On June 26, 2020, the trial was stalled due to the absence of
the defence counsel for Uche Amadi and Ogechi Uchechukwu (second
and third defendants respectively).

Justice Oshodi had said, “The court notes with disgust the
attitude of the counsel to the second and third defendants. Their
absence today has stalled any progress in this case.”

It should be noted that Evans has had at least four defence
counsel during the course of his trial, namely Mr Olukoya
Ogungbeje, Mr Noel Brown, Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaku, and Mr Victor
Okpara.

Earlier this year, the absence of a witness who was to testify
in Evans’ defence had stalled his trial before the court as the
witness, whose name was not provided, could no longer be reached
via phone. The case was then adjourned until July 29, 2021.

While the five co-defendants, as well as their counsel, were all
present in court on Friday, Evans’ counsel was nowhere in
sight.

Our correspondent gathered that Evans’ counsel, Victor Okpara,
was in Abuja and could not fly down to Lagos for the trial due to
bad weather.

Reacting to Okpara’s absence, Justice Oshodi threatened the 1st
defendant, Evans, saying, “You would handle your case all by
yourself if your counsel does not appear on the next adjourned
date.”

Justice Oshodi thereafter adjourned the case until August 3,
2021, for the continuation of defence.

The trial of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans,
has once again been adjourned due to the absence of his counsel in
court.

The trial, which has been in process for about four years now,
was earlier slated for Friday and was presided over by Justice
Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

Evans, along with his co-defendants, Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu
Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, had
previously been arraigned before Justice Oshodi on August 31, 2017
on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

The gang was alleged to have kidnapped Donatus Dunu, the
Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Dunu was kidnapped on Ilupeju Road, Lagos State, on February 14,
2017 and the defendants allegedly collected €223,000 as ransom from
Dunu’s family.

The trial had experienced several delays in the past due to
varying factors and Friday has not be the first time Evans appeared
in court without his counsel.

On November 24, 2017, Evans’ counsel failed to appear before the
Igbosere High Court in Lagos and the matter was adjourned until
January 22, 2018 for hearing.

Again, on January 22, 2018, the late arrival of Evans’ counsel
stalled the court proceedings as the counsel only walked in when
the case had been adjourned. The matter was then adjourned until
February 28, 2018.

On June 26, 2020, the trial was stalled due to the absence of
the defence counsel for Uche Amadi and Ogechi Uchechukwu (second
and third defendants respectively).

Justice Oshodi had said, “The court notes with disgust the
attitude of the counsel to the second and third defendants. Their
absence today has stalled any progress in this case.”

It should be noted that Evans has had at least four defence
counsel during the course of his trial, namely Mr Olukoya
Ogungbeje, Mr Noel Brown, Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaku, and Mr Victor
Okpara.

Earlier this year, the absence of a witness who was to testify
in Evans’ defence had stalled his trial before the court as the
witness, whose name was not provided, could no longer be reached
via phone. The case was then adjourned until July 29, 2021.

While the five co-defendants, as well as their counsel, were all
present in court on Friday, Evans’ counsel was nowhere in
sight.

Our correspondent gathered that Evans’ counsel, Victor Okpara,
was in Abuja and could not fly down to Lagos for the trial due to
bad weather.

Reacting to Okpara’s absence, Justice Oshodi threatened the 1st
defendant, Evans, saying, “You would handle your case all by
yourself if your counsel does not appear on the next adjourned
date.”

Justice Oshodi thereafter adjourned the case until August 3,
2021, for the continuation of defence.