Lawyer’s absence stalls Evans’ trial

The ongoing trial of supected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans before a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere was on Monday stalled following the absence of his lawyer from the court.

At the resumption of trial today, Evans’ counsel, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku, sent a letter to the court that he would not be available and asked for an adjournment.

When the matter was called, the court was informed that Ajanaku was not in court as he has already sent in a letter that he would be absent from court.

Evans is currently facing two separate charges, bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

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, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

At the last adjourned date, a fifth prosecution witness, Izuchukwu Ezeuko, had told the court of how he travelled down to the Eastern part of the country to drop one million dollars ransom to the alleged kidnappers of his employer.

Ezeuko, a manager in the firm of the victim of the alleged kidnap, Mr James Uduji, had made the revelation while giving evidence before Justice Asedayo Akintoye.

However, after some weeks of the alleged kidnap, precisely on October 10, 2015, he got a call from a private number, who said he should speak with his boss.

“My boss then spoke to me and said if I want him alive, I should go to the east to deliver money to the alleged kidnappers.

“I went to Festac and met Mr Edwin Uduji, the victim’s brother, who arranged the first 800, 000 USD for me to travel with.

“On October 11, which was the next day, I drove down to the east with the victim’s elder sister, in the east, a voice gave us instructions on how to drop the money,” Ezeuko said.

Another witness, Sergeant Kingsley Harold had also given evidence in the first charge in which Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba, for alleged kidnap of Mr Donatus.

Harold who was led by Dr Jide Martins said after Evans was arrested, he was asked to make a statement at the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) office Ikeja but Evans said he was not too good in writing.

Consequently, the case was adjourned till October 24, for continuation of trial.