The Lagos State government Wednesday arraigned Evans
alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi,
and Victor Aduba on a two count charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and
kidnapping. According to the government, the suspects had conspired on February
14th at about 7.45pm at Ilupeju, Lagos, to kidnap one Donatus Dunu and collect
€223,000 for his release.
After he pleaded guilty when the first charge was
read, there was a slight pause, and then the judge ordered the court registrar
to repeat the question.
"Evans repeated the same answer. He also pleaded
guilty to the second charge of kidnapping.
Mr. Amadi, the second defendant, also pleaded guilty
to the two counts.
Mr. Nwachukwu pleaded guilty to conspiracy and not
guilty to kidnapping.
Ms. Uchechukwu, the only female in the group, and
Messrs. Ifeanyi and Aduba, pleaded not guilty to all the charges."
Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned till October 19 for
trial of those who pleaded not guilty, and to look at the evidence for those
who pleaded guilty before their conviction.According to the criminal laws of
Lagos State, an act of kidnapping attracts life imprisonment while kidnappers
whose victims die in their custody get the death penalty. Ahead of the
arraignment, there was heavy security presence around the high court with armed
police officers and armoured personnel carriers stationed at both entrances
into the premises.
Police officers on horsebacks patrolled the grounds
while uniformed men with bomb detectors frisked journalists at the door of the
courtroom.At about 9.30 a.m., at least half a dozen police officers marched a
clean shaven Evans, sporting a cream shirt on black trousers, and his co-defendants
into the courtroom.The defendants had been in police custody since June 10.
Before their charges were read, Olukoya Ogungbeje,
counsel to the defendants, attempted to raise an issue before the court but was
shunned by the judge who told him “you can’t control my courtroom, the charges
have not been read.”After the defendants took their pleas, Mr. Ogungbeje said
he had wanted to inform the judge that he had not been allowed to discuss with
his clients before the arraignment. “We are having the opportunity of meeting
with our clients just this morning,” said Mr. Ogungbeje, who had filed a
fundamental rights enforcement suit on behalf of Evans at a federal court.“All
the defendants have since been in the custody of the police, we have not had
the opportunity of conferring with them, this is a capital offence.
”Earlier,
Adeniji Kazeem, the Attorney General of Lagos State, specified that the
defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison before the next adjourned
date. “We apply for the defendants to be remanded in custody and to obtain
trial dates for the ones that had pleaded not guilty,” said Mr. Kazeem, the
lead prosecutor.“While those that had pleaded guilty, we can come and lay our
statement of facts following which your lordship can adjourn for sentencing.” While
adjourning, the judge ordered that the male defendants be remanded at the
Kirikiri Maximum Prison while Ms. Uchechukwu be kept at the Kirikiri Female
Prison. After the court proceedings, which lasted about 45 minutes, Evans and
the other defendants remained in court for almost two hours before they were
taken away in a waiting Prison vehicle.
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