After four years of trial, notorious billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has been sentence to life imprisonment by a Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja
Two of his accomplices, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, also got the same sentence after they were all found guilty of two counts of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.
The presiding judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, who gave the verdict, found the trio guilty of the two-count charge of kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu.
Justice Oshodi averred that there was overwhelming evidence to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
The prosecution had told the court that the incident took place at about 7:45 pm, along Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, on April 12, 2017, Evans alongside the other five defendants, while armed with guns and other dnagerous weapons captured, detained and collected a ransom of €223,000 from the victim for his release.
The Lagos State government had arraigned them before the court on August 30, 2017.
In all, the prosecution called four witnesses, including the victim, Dunu; while the defence presented six witnesses, including Evans, who testified in his own defence.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the other three co-defendants, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, a former soldier; and Victor Aduba, also a former soldier, holding that there was no evidence linking them to the crimes.
The prosecution had claimed that the convicts committed the alleged offence between February 14 and April 12, 2017.
Tbe judge held that he observed the demeanour of the Evans, stating that in some of the confessional videos played in court, Evans had mentioned some of the other defendants and the roles they played in the crime.
The judge said, “He was seen freely laughing and willingly answered questions. A close look at his body shows no sign of torture. He did not look unkempt. He is seen laughing even when he was told that he must be a rich kidnapper.
“He showed no remorse in the dock, and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence.”
He concluded that the evidence tendered before the court, especially their video confessions corroborated their guilt.
Evans is also facing similar charges before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the same court.
