- Arinze died of complications from HIV/AIDS
Mr. Ogedi Ogu, counsel to Chiemeka Arinze, standing trial alongside alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, on Monday gave more details about Arinze’s death in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 45-year-old Arinze was standing trial alongside Onwuamadike, Joseph Emeka and Udeme Upong for the attempted kidnap of Chief Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors.
Addressing the court on Monday, Ogu said: “He was rushed to a hospital from Kirikiri Correctional Centre on Thursday. I visited him on Friday and he was in a coma on that day.
“I left there around 4p.m., and at about 9p.m. they called me and informed me that he had died.
READ ALSO: Billionaire kidnapper, Evan’s co-defendant, Arinze, dies in prison
Court allows witnesses to testify against Evans via Zoom
“Doctors informed me that they were going to run some tests about the cause of his death; the results are going to come out on Saturday,” he said.
Responding, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said that the court was already in possession of Arinze’s death certificate.
“The death certificate here says the cause of death is cardiopulmonary arrest and the secondary cause is HIV; It is from the Ajeromi General Hospital,” the judge said.
Taiwo described Arinze’s death as unfortunate.
The judge said that the trial must continue, and asked other defence counsel to adopt their written addresses on a trial-within-trial in the case.
Following adoption of the written addresses, Taiwo adjourned the case until December 17 for ruling and further hearing.
Even with Arinze’s death, Evans and his co-defendants face a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms.
Meanwhile, the Ikeja court has granted the prayers of two witnesses who are scared to appear in person to testify against suspected Evans to do so virtually.
Evans and his co-conspirator, Victor Aduba, a dismissed soldier, are standing trial on a four-count charge of kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
Oluwatoyin Taiwo, presiding judge of the Ikeja special offences court, in charge of the case, on Monday, ruled on the application of state prosecutors, S.O. Fashola, who asked for permission of the court to allow two prosecution witnesses to be heard virtually.
NAN
