Notorious kidnapping kingpin Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans, has opted for a plea bargain in his ongoing trial, which involves charges of kidnapping and attempted murder.
As part of the plea agreement, Evans has offered to surrender his 14 brand-new trucks to the Lagos state government. The trucks will be sold, and the proceeds will be used to compensate the victims of his criminal activities.
Evans has also proposed to forfeit all his other properties if the court considers his request on compassionate grounds. In his plea bargain application, presented before Justice Sherifat Sonaike on Thursday, Evans revealed that he has become a teacher at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre. He explained that during his time in prison, he obtained a teaching diploma in economics from Yewa College of Education.
This is the second time Evans has requested a plea bargain based on compassionate grounds. His initial request was made on January 30 before Justice Adenike Coker at a Lagos high court in Ikeja.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Evans’ lawyer, Etudo Emefo, argued that his client was remorseful and had undergone a significant transformation during his imprisonment. He pleaded for leniency from the Lagos state government, stressing that the federal government’s scholarship granted to Evans would be rendered useless without their forgiveness. Emefo presented Evans’ National Certificate of Education (NCE) in economics, alongside his project work, as evidence of his rehabilitation.
The prosecuting counsel, Alaba Kuku, confirmed that the Lagos state government had received Evans’ application and had set up a committee to review it.
Evans’ co-defendants Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba, and Linus Opara are also in the process of negotiating plea deals with the state government. However, the lawyer for the third defendant, Opara, stated that his application is yet to be submitted.
All four defendants face a five-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder. The case has been adjourned until April 17, when a report on the plea bargain application will be presented, or the trial will proceed if the plea deal is unsuccessful.
