The re-arraignment of convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, was delayed on Thursday due to the absence of his lawyer at the Lagos State High Court.
When the case was called before Justice Adenike Coker, Evans stated that he was unsure of his lawyer’s whereabouts. The case was set to address an amended five-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and related crimes against Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka.
Evans’s co-defendant’s lawyer, Nelson Onyejaka, explained to the court that he was unable to contact Evans’s lawyer, who is reportedly not based in Lagos.
State Prosecutor Yusuf Sule urged the court for an adjournment, emphasizing that Evans had delayed the proceedings repeatedly since the case’s inception in 2017. He also mentioned Evans’s previous application for a plea bargain, though it was unclear if Evans still wished to pursue it.
Justice Coker ordered the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to represent Evans at the next hearing if his lawyer remains absent. The case was adjourned to January 30, 2025, with a directive for Evans to ensure his lawyer’s presence.
