Notorious kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has made a fresh attempt to secure clemency as he was re-arraigned for the murder of two Nigerian policemen and the attempted kidnapping of transport magnate Chief Obianodo Vincent.
The Lagos State Government re-arraigned Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Nkenna Emeka, on a five-count charge of murder and kidnapping before Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Evans’ new legal counsel, Chief Emefo Etudo, urged the court to consider a plea bargain application covering three pending criminal cases and two others on compassionate grounds. He emphasized that Evans, having already been convicted in two separate cases, had undergone a transformation from a hardened criminal to an educated and reformed individual.
In his submission, Etudo requested that:
A new, discretionary charge be filed against Evans, allowing him to plead guilty and serve a 14-year sentence.
The 14-year sentence should run concurrently with other convictions Evans has received.
The application, backed by legal authority (attached as Appendix 6), should override all previous plea bargain attempts made by or on behalf of Evans.
Making an emotional appeal, Etudo argued that Evans had undergone a radical transformation during his eight years in detention. He disclosed that while in prison, Evans took advantage of an educational program sponsored by the Federal Government, earning a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics.
“The first defendant has evolved from a criminal to a teacher and a responsible citizen,” Etudo told the court. “He has acquired an NCE, completed a research project, and is now imparting knowledge to fellow inmates.”
To support his claim, Etudo submitted a copy of Evans’ NCE certificate and his academic project as evidence (Appendices 1 & 2).
Despite Evans’ plea for clemency, the Lagos State Government has been unwavering in its prosecution of the high-profile kidnapper, having already secured two convictions against him. The government has insisted that justice must be served for his victims, including families of slain officers and individuals traumatized by his criminal activities.
As the case unfolds, legal experts are watching closely to see whether the court will prioritize reformation over retribution or whether Evans’ dark past will continue to overshadow his claims of transformation.
Will the justice system grant him a second chance, or will he remain behind bars for the rest of his life? The coming weeks will determine his fate.
PIONEER NEWS 