Lagos state arraigns Evans, three others for kidnap

Suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, was on Monday arraigned at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere alongside three other defendants on a two count criminal charge of conspiracy and unlawful capture, preferred against them by the Lagos State prosecution.  The three other defendants are Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba. They were alleged […]

Suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, was on Monday arraigned at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere alongside three other defendants on a two count criminal charge of conspiracy and unlawful capture, preferred against them by the Lagos State prosecution. 

The three other defendants are Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba. They were alleged to have conspired with others who are still on the run.

They allegedly conspired amongst themselves and unlawfully captured one Uche Okorafor, on 21 of November 2014, at Festac Town Lagos and demanded for a ransom of $2million dollars.  

According to the prosecutor the offences committed are Punishable Under Sections 409 and  269, of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011.

At the last adjourned date Justice Adedayo Akintoye dismissed the defendants application to quash  the charge against them,  she said that the charge presently constituted against Evans, "are not defective and not an abuse of court processes".

Akintoye said this while ruling on the application brought by Evans asking the court to quash the two separate charges filed against him by the Lagos State Government.

Justice Akintoye had said based on the proof of evidence before the court, issue for determination was whether a prima facie case has been established against the defendants.

She, however, said that a prima facie case is established where the court finds that there are grounds for proceedings, adding that the proof of evidence must sufficiently link the defendant to the offence allegedly committed.

 

"Looking closely to the proof of evidence attached to the information in this case, a prima facie case has clearly been disclosed against the defendant/applicant," Akintoye said.