Kemisola Oye
JUSTICE Adenike Coker of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has fixed 21 November 2024 for the hearing of a plea bargain agreement of convicted billionaire kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (popularly known as Evans) and another alleged suspected kidnapper.
The judge fixed the date to hear Evans and Emeka Joseph’s plea bargain agreement following the defendants’ absence in court.
The matter, which suffered a setback today, was not adjourned not only due to Evans’ absence but those of his counsel as well as the prosecution counsel.
At the resumed hearing, the second defendant’s counsel, Mr Nelson Onyejaka, informed the court that he was surprised that the prosecution and the first defendant’s counsel were not present in court.
“I do not know whether they are aware that this case is coming up today. We are still going with the plea bargain, my lord.”
The trial judge, Justice Coker, thereafter, ordered that a production warrant be issued for re-arraignment and plea bargain outcome.
She subsequently adjourned the case to 21 November 2024.
The prosecution had on 11 May informed the court that the defendants had opted for a plea bargain agreement.
Evans and his co-defendant were to be re-arraigned on an amended five counts of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.
It would be recalled that Evans had been convicted on two different cases. He was convicted of kidnapping by Justice Hakeem Oshodi and Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, now retired.
He is still standing trial on two other separate cases before the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
Eighteen-Eleven Media