Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, convicted kidnapping kingpin, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, have opted for a plea bargain agreement in the murder case against them.

Evans and Emeka are charged with murder and attempted kidnapping before an Ikeja high court.

They were scheduled to be re-arraigned on a five-count charge before the court on Thursday.

However, at the court session, the re-arraignment was stalled due to the absence of Evans’ counsel.

Yusuf Sule, lead counsel for the prosecution, informed the court that the defendants had applied for a plea bargain.

He said the plea bargain option is being considered by Lawal Pedro, Lagos state attorney-general and commissioner for justice.

“I am aware that the defendants have applied for a plea bargain, but it is being considered by the attorney-general,” he said.

“We have an amended charge, my lord, because the fourth defendant has been convicted while the third defendant died in prison.

“We shall be asking for another date for the re-arraignment of the defendants.”

Adenike Coker, presiding judge, adjourned the case until June 13 for the re-arraignment of Evans and Emeka.

“In view of the absence of counsel to the first defendant, this case is hereby adjourned until June 13, and the first defendant is directed to ensure his counsel is in court,” the judge said.

“There is no excuse for his absence.

“In the light of the amendment charge before the court, the case against the third and fourth defendants is struck out.”

Evans and Emeka were standing trial before Oluwatoyin Taiwo, a judge, before her retirement.

They allegedly killed Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi on August 27, 2013, in the Festac Town area of Lagos.

They were also charged with the attempted kidnapping of Vincent Obianodo, chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors.

In February 2022, Akeem Oshodi, an Ikeja high court judge, convicted Evans and two others on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping.

They were found guilty of kidnapping Donatus Dunu, chief executive officer (CEO) of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

The prosecution said they kidnapped Dunu in Lagos on February 14, 2017, and collected £223,000 (N100 million) as ransom from his family.

On February 25, 2022, the suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, charged with murder and attempted kidnap have opted for plea bargain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state lead counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, informed the court about the plea bargain option on Thursday when the case was called for re-arraignment.

The case was called for re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Cokers of an Ikeja High Court.

Evans and his co-defendant were to be re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony, wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.

Sule informed the court that the case was for re-arraignment but he was aware the defendants have applied for plea.

The prosecutor, however, said the plea bargain terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN).

More later…

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Hamzat Adebola, on Thursday, paraded the former Chairman, Park Management System, Lamidi Mukaila fondly called Auxiliary.

The Department of State Services penultimate Tuesday arrested Auxillary at his Olodo residence in Ibadan, the state capital, months after the police had declared him wanted for allegedly involving in a series of armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder cases.

Adebola, while parading the suspect at the state police command, said he would be charged in court.

He said, “Discreet intelligence-led search commenced for the sacked PMS chieftain with the help of technology, collaborative efforts with sister services and community policing, many locations were identified, traced and combed for months until his recent arrest in a concerted effort with our sister services.

“Exhibits recovered in his possession at his Diamond Hotel residence around Alakia-Isebo Egbeda under Egbeda Local Government Area at the time include one AK-47 Riffle, four AK-47 magazines, 84 live AK-47 Ammunitions, 19 pump action riffles, one Barreta pistol, seven cut-to-size guns, one English made Barrel Gun.

“724 live cartridges, 25 cutlasses, Seven Jack knives, 33 mobile phones, one Samsung laptop, charms, one Mazda Bus, one Toyota Sienna, cash sum of N3,450,000.00. Moving forward, the suspect would be charged to court for offenses committed.” He stated.

The CP, therefore, thanked the public for providing credible information to curb the crime in the state.

Adebola also reiterated the commitment of the command to deal decisively with any criminally motivated individual or group who intended to flip the state retrogressively into the historical dark ages of the “Wild West.”