ARRAIGNMENT– suspected notorious kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, known and addressed as Evans and five others, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Victor Aduba and Chilaka Ifeanyi were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping were on Wednesday hauled up before an High Court of Lagos State, in Ikeja Judicial Division.

However when the charge was read to the defendants Evans and the second and fourth defendants pleaded not guilty to the two count charges‎ against them. 

According to the prosecutor, the charge read that on April 12, Evans alongside the other five defendants while armed with guns and other weapons captured, detained and collected a ransom of 223,000 Euros from one Duru Donatus for his release. 

According to the prosecution led by Mr Adeniji Kazeem, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Evans and his accomplices committed the offence of conspiracy at 7.45 p.m. on Feb. 14 on Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor the offences committed is punishable under Sections 411 and 271 (3) of the Criminal law cap C17 laws of Lagos State 2015.

Evans Said “My Lord am guilty”, Amadi and Nwachukwu pleaded guilty to the charges while Uchechukwu, the only female defendant, Ifeanyi and Aduba pleaded innocence of the offences of the charges.

After the arraignment the AG, asked Justice Hakeem Oshodi to remand the defendants in prison custody. 

He said” We would be asking for remand in custody and also for an adjournment to take trial for those that pleaded not guilty, so that we can come back for facts and sentence of the ones that pleaded guilty”. 

The counsel to the first, second, third and fifth defendants Olukoya Ogunbeje said ‎we would not be opposing the adjournment. 

“While for those that have pleaded guilty, we will like to lay out our statement of facts following which Your Lordship will adjourn for sentencing,” Kazeem said.

Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, counsel to Evans, Amadi, Uchechukwu, Ifeanyi and Aduba told the court that he and his team had not got the opportunity to “confer” with his clients.

“However, the defence team just had the opportunity of meeting our clients this morning in court for the first time, we were just served with documents in the open court this morning.

“All the defendants have since been in the custody of the Police and we have not had the opportunity of conferring with them regarding the offences which are capital in nature,” Ogungbeje said.

The vacation judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi asked the Attorney-General for his choice of prison for the defendants to be remanded.

“Maximum Kirikiri Prisons, My Lord,” Kazeem replied.

Remanding Evans and his alleged accomplices, Oshodi said:“ The first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth defendants shall be remanded in the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons.

`While the third defendant shall be remanded in the female wing of the Kirikiri Prison.

This case is adjourned to October 19 for continuation of trial.”