*The Lagos High Court, in Ikeja, sentences kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, and two other kidnappers to life imprisonment, upholding the prosecution had successfully proved the charge against the convicts  beyond a reasonable doubt

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

The Lagos High Court, in Ikeja, has sentenced kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and two other kidnappers, Uchenna Amadi and Okuchuwkwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi handed out the sentence to the three suspects Friday, February 25, 2022, after convicting them on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of Mr. Donatus Duru, a Nigerian businessman and Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Justice Oshodi, while convicting the trio, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge against them beyond a reasonable doubt.

In reaching his verdict on Evans, the Justice held that he observed the demeanour of the witness, 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.

Justice Oshodi 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.”

The Judge concluded that the evidence tendered before the court, especially their video confessions corroborated their guilt.

However, the court discharged and acquitted Ogechi Uchechukwu and two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.

The Lagos State Government (LASG) had arraigned Evans alongside Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for allegedly kidnapping Duru, Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, February 14, 2017.

The state had claimed that the convicts committed the alleged offence between February 14 and April 12, 2017.

The prosecution had further told the court that the incident took place at about 7:45 pm, along Obokun Street, in the Ilupeju area of Lagos.

The prosecution told the court that Evans, April 12, 2017, alongside the other five defendants armed with guns and other weapons captured, detained, and collected a ransom of €223,000 (Euros) from Donatus for his release.

The Lagos State Government thereafter arraigned the defendants before the court August 2017.

The prosecution presented four witnesses, including the victim, Duru while the defence presented six witnesses, including Evans who testified in his own defence.

Meanwhile, Evans is also facing similar charges before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the same court.