It was judgement day for Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans) on Friday as an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Hakeem Oshodi, convicted him and two others on the charge of kidnapping.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi convicted Evans and the two others for conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Dùru.
Justice Oshodi found Evans and others guilty of a two-count charge of kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu.
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Others convicted alongside Evans are Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu.
The judge held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the charge against the three convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.
He concluded that the evidence tendered before the court especially the videos evidence collaborated the guilty of the convicts
Justice Oshodi however discharged and acquitted Ogechi Uchechukw and two former soldiers Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
In convicting Evans and his partners, Justice Oshodi held that they are unrepentant as they comfortably lied to the court.
The trial judge also noted the submission of the former Director Public Prosecution (DPP), now Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ms Titi Shitta-Bey that in view of the gravity of the offence and for the fact that kidnapping has been on the rise, that maximum sentence be imposed to serve as deterrence to others.
Justice Oshodi held that the defendants have not shown any remorse going by the video shown ìn court.
“I believe a lesson must be taught to serve as deterrence to others.
“The Law is the Law. Section 411 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State (ACJL) 2015 must be applied to send the right message to the public that crime does not pay.
He further held: “Under the section 411 of the law on which the convicts were arraigned, the penalty for the offence of kidnapping is life imprisonment and the law does not give the court any discretion in the matter.
“I hereby sentenced the three convicts, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu to life imprisonment.
“This is the sentence of the court,” Justice Oshodi held.