Azeez Folorunsho/
State prosecution witness, Mr. Anselem Dunu, in the trial of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, today stunned a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja when he said a strange voice gave him instructions on where to drop ransom money.
Ansalem who is the elder brother of Donatus Dunu, the Chairman of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, who was kidnapped on February 14, 2017, said this while being cross examined by Evans’ counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje.
He insisted before Justice Hakeem Oshodi that he could not recognize the owner of the voice.
Upon further cross examination, Dunu said that he only acted on the orders from the ‘voice’ that told him where to drop the ransom.
Dunu, the first prosecution witness in Lagos State’s kidnap case against Evans and five others, while giving evidence had recollected that he paid €233,000 to secure the release of his brother from the kidnapper’s den.
Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba who are also members of his gang.
They were arraigned on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy, which they all pleaded not guilty to.
Dunu said that he only met Evans for the first time at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja.
“I never suspected him of kidnapping my brother. I only gave instructions to my cousin on where to drop the ransom money as instructed by the voice on the phone,” he said.
He described the voice as ‘muffled’ and unrecognizable.
The proposed cross examination could not go on as the 4th defendant had no legal representation, a situation which compelled Justice Oshodi to adjourn the matter till March 2, for continuation of cross examination, and to rule on a bail application brought by the 6th defendant who asked the Court to grant him bail.
Earlier Director of Lagos State Prosecution, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, accused the 4th defendant of trying to frustrate the trial.
“My Lord, the 4th defendant at the last adjourned date did not have legal representation and this is also the case today. The court should take notice of the Supreme Court’s ruling on unnecessary delays in trial,” she said.
Ogungbeje who had earlier represented the 4th defendant said he pulled out because the defendant did not perfect his legal fee.
0