Evans makes u-turn, changes plea to ‘not guilty’ as Lagos govt amends charges

The trail of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, known as Evans has taken a twist as the Lagos State Government on Thursday amended the charges it filed against the alleged kidnapper alongside five others before a High Court in Lagos State.

Subsequently, Evan who had on August 30 pleaded guilty to earlier charges leveled against him also on Thursday made a U-turn and entered a `not guilty’ plea.

Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, had when the matter came up in court on Thursday, informed the trial judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, that the amendment relates only to the punishment section for the second charge.

She announced that the punishment section in the second count of amended charge was changed from Section 271 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State to Section 2(1) of the Kidnap Prohibition Law of the Laws of Lagos 2017.

Shitta-bey claimed that Evans and his accomplices committed the offence of conspiracy at 7.45 p.m. on February 14, on Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.

Evans and other alleged accomplices, Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, the only female defendant; Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba were earlier charged with the kidnap of Mr Donatius Duru on August 30.

According to the prosecution, the defendants between February 14 and April 12 at Obokun Street, Ilupeju, while armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, captured and detained Duru. The defendants allegedly collected a ransom of 223,000 euros for the release of Donatius.

Earlier, counsel to Evans, Olukoya Ogungbeje, had opposed the reading of the amended charges to the defendants.

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After all other arguments, Justice Oshodi stood down the case for 45 minutes till 11.45 a.m. to enable the counsel `confer’ with the defendants.

Subsequently upon resumption from the stand-down, the charges were read to the defendants and their pleas taken.
Justice Oshodi then adjourned the case until November 3, when the defence must have prepared for trial.

 

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