Absence of Evans’ counsel stalls trial

The absence of counsel to the suspected kidnapping kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, Friday, stalled the hearing in his case before Justice Adebayo Akintoye of a Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).

Evans is currently facing two separate charges bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder at the court.

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In the first charge, Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

In the second charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Linus Okpara.

At the resumed hearing, the Lagos State Prosecutor, Mr Babatunde Sumonu, told the court that the case was for mention.

Mr B. C. Mbam and Mr O. A. Egbogbo, announced their appearance as counsels for the second and fourth defendants in the first charge.

The first defendant, Evans, told the court that his counsel was Mr Victor Opara and that he did not know why the lawyer was not in court.

Also, the third defendant, Nwachukwu, said his lawyer was aware of the proceedings date but did not know why the lawyer was absent. 

In the second charge, Evans’ lawyer was also absent while counsels for the other defendants were present.

Therefore, Mr J. C. Jiakponna, counsel to the fourth defendant (Linus Okpara) urged the court for a date to move his client’s bail application, noting that the application had taken a long time.

In his response, the prosecutor said they had filed a counter-affidavit for the bail application.

Justice Akintoye, therefore, adjourned the case to January 21, 2022, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that hearing notices be issued to Evans’ counsel.

In a related development, the trial of Rickey Tarfa (SAN) before the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), was also stalled yesterday due to the absence of his lawyer- Jelili Owonikoko (SAN).

Rickey Tarfa is standing trial before Justice Adebayo Akintoye on a 26-count charge bordering on offering monetary gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court – Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa.