Matilda Omonaiye/
Nigeria’s notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, was today sentenced to life imprisonment, at an Ikeja High Court in Lagos, for the kidnap of Mr. Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi also sentenced Evans’s two co-defendants, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment for the same offenses.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the other co-defendants, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, an ex-soldier; and Victor Aduba, also an ex-soldier.
The judge held that there was no evidence linking them to the crimes.
Sentencing the convicts, Oshodi said that they did not show any remorse for their crimes and had tried to “lie their way out of the charges” during the trial.
Oshodi noted that the Kidnapping Prohibition Law of Lagos State prescribed a mandatory life sentence for any individual found guilty of kidnapping.
“A lesson must be taught. In this respect, the law is the law that must be upheld.
“The first, second, and fourth defendants – Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, Uche Amadi, and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, are each hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.
“This is the sentence of the court,” he said.
Today’s judgment is the first to be delivered in the five kidnapping trials Evans is facing at the various High Courts of Lagos State.
The defendants were arraigned before Oshodi on August 31, 2017, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.
According to the prosecution, Dunu was kidnapped on Feb. 14, 2016, on Obokun Street, Ilupeju Road, Lagos.
He was shackled and blindfolded during his 88-day ordeal, and the convicts collected 223,000 euros as ransom from his family for his release.
The prosecution closed its case on January 10, 2020, after presenting four witnesses including Dunu.
The defense closed its case on August 3, 2021, after the six defendants and Evans’s sister, Mrs. Ndubuisi Obiechina, testified.
The offenses are in violation of Section 2(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No. 13, Laws of Lagos State, 2017.
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Why life sentence , someone who has killed and make people cry should not be spare at all .