••••Pleads Not Guilty, Seeks Plea Bargain
TITILOPE JOSEPH
LAGOS
••••Pleads Not Guilty, Seeks Plea Bargain
Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, was re-arraigned on Thursday before Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
Evan’s was re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and murder.
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court.
The prosecution counsel, Sule Yusuf, informed the court that the case was starting de novo (afresh) and requested the re-arraignment of the defendants, a motion that was not opposed by the defendant’s legal representatives, Chief Emefo Etudo and C.N. Udeh.
The charges against Evans and Emeka include the alleged murder of Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi on August 27, 2013, along Third Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.
Following their plea, Yusuf urged the court to remand the defendants in custody, pending further proceedings.
However, the prosecution also disclosed that both defendants had applied for a plea bargain.
Evans’ counsel, Chief Etudo informed the court that he was newly involved in the case and had advised his client to explore the plea bargain option with the Lagos State Government.
“We are not really defence counsel; we were asked to come and plead for some date,” Etudo told the court, emphasizing that their primary concern was pursuing the plea bargain application.
He further informed the court that the Federal Government had previously granted Evans a second chance by offering him a scholarship while in custody.
According to him, Evans had already obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE) and was aspiring to pursue a PhD.
“If he is given a second chance, he will not misuse it,” Etudo stated, arguing that his client had been rehabilitated through education while in custody.
In response, Yusuf noted that the plea bargain application would be reviewed by the appropriate committee.
Justice Coker subsequently remanded the defendants and adjourned the case to March 20, 2025, for a report on the plea bargain process.
