Ladipo Sanusi/
Acclaimed billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme George Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, was all smiles this morning as he arrived at a Lagos High Court, in Ikeja, to face charges for several alleged crimes.
Evans and five members of his gang arrived under heavy security. They were marched into the courtroom at 8.56 a.m to face Justice Akeem Oshodi of Court 18.
When the proceedings commenced, Evans wasted no time. He pleaded guilty to a 2-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping before the Judge.
Another defendant, Uche Amadi, also pleaded guilty to the 2-count charge, while the only female member of the gang, Ogechi Uchechukwu, as well as Chilaka Ifeanyi and VIctor Chukwunonso Aduba pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The fourth accused, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, only pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count. He denied the kidnapping allegation.
Evans lawyer, Mr. Kayode Ogungbeje, who has been representing him in his N300 million fundamental rights suit against the police was there to defend him.
Ogungbeje was seen discussing with Evans before the proceedings began.
The Judge, however, adjourned the matter till October 19 for a review of the facts and sentence.
Justice Oshodi ordered that Evans and the other four male defendants be remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Prison, while the female defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, would be kept at the Kirikiri Female Prison.
One of the charges before Justice Oshodi is on the case of kidnapping of a victim identified as Mr Donatus Dunu at Ilupeju area of Lagos, who allegedly paid N150million ransom to Evans.
According to the police Evans and 15 members of his gang are facing 14 substantive cases (10 in Lagos and four in Edo State) with 52 Charges of multiple murders, armed robberies, kidnappings, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful possession of ammunition among other crimes.
The cases were filed by the Force Legal Department and Lagos State Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Lagos State High Court, the Federal High Court and Edo State High Court, in Benin.
Today’s appearance is one of the 14 cases, police say the others involved 13 more victims and other suspects not yet arraigned.
Following the pleas of the accused persons, Mr. Kazeem Adeniji, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, urged the Court to remand all the suspects pending the review of facts of those that pleaded guilty to the charge, and commencement of trial for those that denied the allegations.
Ogungbeje, who also represented Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and VIctor Chukwunonso Aduba, told the court that he was not opposed to the adjournment sought by the prosecution, but asked the Court to discountenance the remand application.
He also told the Court that since his clients were arrested and detained, he could not meet him. He added that it was at the Court premises that the information on the charge was served on him.
Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, was represented by Mrs. N. B. Ememolu, who did not make any submission.
Count one of the charges against the suspects reads: “That you Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans; followed by his team members, Uche Amadi; Ogechi Uchechukwu; Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu; Chilaka Ifeanyi; and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba, on 14th February, 2017, at about 7.45 p.m., along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, in the Ikeja Judicial Division, conspired to commit a felony to wit kidnapping.”
Count two says; “That you Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, followed by his team members, Uche Amadi; Ogechi Uchechukwu; Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu; Chilaka Ifeanyi; and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba, between 12th February and 14th April, 2017, along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, in the Ikeja Judicial Division, while armed with guns and other weapons, did capture, detained, and collected ransom of €223, 000 Euros, from one Dunu Donatus, for his release.”