The Lagos State government will today (Thursday) rearrange convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, before Justice Adenike Coker of the state High Court on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
This follows Evans’ absence on Wednesday, which stalled a suit filed against him by a kidnap victim.
Evans, who is facing multiple cases of kidnapping and armed robbery, had earlier been convicted and jailed by two Lagos courts.
In February 2022, an Ikeja High Court Judge, Hakeem Oshodi, sentenced him to life imprisonment for the kidnapping of Chief Donatus Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
In September 2022, another judge of the court, Oluwatoyin Taiwo (now retired), sentenced Evans to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping a businessman, Chief Sylvanus Ahamonu, and collecting $420,000 as ransom from his family.
Evans is still standing trial in two other kidnapping cases.
The trial suffered a setback on October 10, 2024, when Evans’ counsel was absent in court.
There are indications that Evans might plead guilty to the amended charges, as the prosecution had earlier informed the court that he had applied for a plea bargain.