Evans was forced to plead guilty, lawyer claims

Olukoya Ogungbeje, counsel to billionaire kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans has claimed in a press statement that his client was coerced to plead guilty to charges leveled against him.

Ogungbeje also claimed in the statement that he was never granted the opportunity to have consultations with Evans until Wednesday when he was brought to court to face trial.

The counsel to Evans said in the statement that; “After the purported guilty plea of our client and the court rose; we stressed to have brief discussion time with our client and ‘he told us clearly that the police told him to plead guilty failure to which the police will kill him.

‘‘This is definitely unconstitutional and we intend to challenge this unconstitutional procedure for hoodwink, undue influence, brainwashing and coercing on an accused into entering a guilty plea against his wish and freewill.

Read also: Kidnap kingpin Evans pleads not guilty

“He pointedly told us that being informed now, he will change his ‘police motivated guilty plea’ to ‘not guilty’ at the next adjourned date.”

‘‘It is settled law that plea of guilty must be made voluntary and direct devoid of any influence, coercion and manipulation.

“In the meantime, after our brief conferring with our client in open court, he made it known to us that he will change his police motivated guilty plea to not guilty at the next adjourned date. We have a responsibility to assist the cause of justice in accordance with the law.”

His statement is coming hours after Evans who was arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos State High Court, pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of kidnapping and conspiracy.
Evans’ lawyer had a day before, failed to convince the Federal High Court, in Lagos, to hear the N300 million human rights abuse case he filed on behalf of Evans.

Ruling on the Fundamental Rights Enforcement suit was deferred as the respondents had contended that the police and IGP of police were not joined in the suit.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now