By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka (Senior Correspondent)
The arraignment of the alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of an Igbosere High Court Lagos on fresh criminal charges, was on Friday stalled for the second time due to the absence of his lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje.
The Lagos State Government had filed a fresh five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder against Evans.
It would be recalled that this particular arraignment was first stalled on November 13, because Evans’ counsel was not served with the fresh information, and one of the newly joined defendants had no legal representative then.
However, Evans, who was arrested on June 10, was in this particular charge, brought to court alongside three other defendants, comprising Joseph Emeka, Okpara Linus and Victor Aduba.
When the case came up on Friday, the Prosecutor, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, told the court that the case was for arraignment but asked that the case be adjourned.
“This matter is for the arraignment of the defendants, unfortunately due to the absence of Evans’ counsel, I do not think it will be possible.
“Ogungbeje just brought a letter to the court this morning stating that he is at the Court of Appeal and asking for a stand down of the matter till noon.
“We do not know when he will be here, even when he comes, the third defendant’s counsel, Mr. Jude Igbanoi, is new to this matter and will need time to familiarise himself with the proof of evidence.
“I therefore ask the court for a short adjournment to enable counsel study the proof of evidence,” Shitta-Bey submitted.
The other defendants’ counsel, Mr. Ogedi Ogu, Igbanoi and Emmanuel Ochai, did not object to the adjournment.
Igbanoi, who is representing Linus the third defendant, had earlier informed the court that he is new to the case and would need time to familiarise himself with the proof of evidence.
TheNiche reports that in another second charge, Evans, was charged alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba. All are facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy to kidnapping.
After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Akintoye adjourned all the cases until January 22, 2018 for hearing.
TheNiche recalls that on November 13, when the case first came up for arraignment, Evans’ counsel, and the second defendant’s counsel, informed the court that they were not served with the information. They also informed the court that one of the defendants did not have a legal representative.
TheNiche also reports that Evans was sometime in August arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at an Ikeja High Court. He has also been arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Igbosere High Court, Lagos.
