Heavy security in court as prosecution closes case against Evans, others

There was an unusual heavy presence of security operatives on the premises of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday, as the Lagos State prosecuting team concluded it’s case against billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans and six others over alleged kidnap of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Ltd, Donatius Dunu, in Lagos.

Evans is standing trial along with Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.The six defendants were arraigned on August 30, 2017, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping. The prosecution alleged that they kidnapped Dunu and collected 223,000 Euros (N100 million) as ransom from his family.

Evans is also standing trial before two other courts for alleged kidnap of other victims. During the continuation of his trial yesterday, there was noticeable increase of security personnel on the premises the court. Scores of officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team were sighted by The Guardian. While the security operatives kept guard, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Inspector Idowu Haruna, in his concluding testimony, narrated how Evans spent the ransom he collected from his victims.

“The proceed collected by the first defendant was used for purchasing houses a Magodo Estate, Lagos, where he was arrested. He also bought a house at Emmanuel Keshi Street at Magodo Estate. He bought a house located at Accra, Ghana. The first defendant also bought landed property at Anambra State from the ransom,” he said.

At the instance of the counsel to the sixth defendant (Aduba), Emmanuel Ochai, a video clip of Evans’ confessional statement was played in court where he (Evans) claimed that the 6th defendant who was dismissed from the Army did not partake in the kidnap of Dunu.

After Haruna’s testimony, the prosecuting counsel, Adebayo Haruna, told the court that the state has concluded its case against the defendant.“My Lord, at this juncture, prosecution would like to close its case against the defendants,” he said.Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned the matter to January 31, 2020, for the defendants to open their case.