LAGOS – Notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, is set to face a fresh trial at the Lagos State High Court today, Thursday. He will be arraigned before Justice Adenike Coker on an amended five-count charge encompassing murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. This development follows Evans’s absence in court on Wednesday, which led to the postponement of a separate suit brought against him by one of his victims.
Evans, already serving multiple sentences for kidnapping and armed robbery, has a history of legal battles. In February 2022, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Evans for the abduction of Chief Donatus Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The case captivated the nation, highlighting the brazenness of Evans’s criminal enterprise.
Further compounding his legal woes, in September 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (now retired) of the same court, sentenced Evans to 21 years behind bars for the kidnapping of a businessman, Chief Sylvanus Ahamonu. In this instance, Evans and his gang successfully extorted $420,000 in ransom from Ahamonu’s family, demonstrating the scale of his operations.
Despite these convictions, Evans still faces trial in two other kidnapping cases. His legal proceedings have been frequently disrupted. On October 10, 2024, a scheduled hearing was adjourned due to the absence of Evans’s legal counsel. This latest delay is just one example of the challenges plaguing the numerous cases against him.
Speculation is rife that Evans may plead guilty to the new charges. The prosecution has previously informed the court that Evans had explored the possibility of a plea bargain. This potential shift in strategy could mark a significant turning point in the protracted legal saga surrounding one of Nigeria’s most infamous criminals. The court proceedings today are expected to shed more light on this possibility and the future of the remaining cases against him.
