Notorious kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwamadike aka Evans, on Thursday, urged the Lagos High Court Ikeja, to consider his application for plea bargain and clemency.
He was rearraigned for the murder of two police officers and the attempted kidnapping of Chief Obianodo Vincent, the owner of Young Shall Grow Transport Company.
His new lawyer, Chief Emefo Etudo, represented him when he was re-arraigned on a five-count charge of alleged murder and kidnapping by the Lagos State Government.
In the charge filed before Justice Adenike Coker, Evans and his co-defendant Joseph Nkenna Emeka pleaded not guilty to the alleged kidnapping and murder.
Etudo informed the court that Evans’ plea bargain application pertains to three pending criminal cases and two others on compassionate grounds.
Evans had previously been convicted in two other cases.
Etudo told Justice Coker that Evans had transformed from a criminal to a teacher and a reasonable human being, and therefore, his name should be graciously dropped from the three pending charges.
He submitted: “That a fresh charge be discretionally filed against the first defendant upon which he will plead guilty and serve 14 years imprisonment If approved.
“That the 14 years imprisonment that may be imposed in the new charge be made to run concurrently with other sentences that might have been given in his other cases listed above.
“Our authority for bringing this application is attached as Appendix 6 and this application supersedes and overrides any previous application made by or on behalf of Mr Onwuamadike for plea bargain.”
Speaking further Otudo told the court that there are five criminal cases against Evans. Lagos state government has been prosecuting him for those cases and has secured conviction for two of them.
He said during the cause of the prosecution, Evans has been incarcerated for about eight years.
“While in prison, the Federal Government offered the first defendant and other inmates a second chance and offered them opportunity to go to school.
“The first defendant (Evans) accepted offer to be educated as they were given scholarship by Federal Government. He has now earned an NCE teaching certificate in Economics.
“He is now a teacher and no longer a criminal. A copy of his NCE certificate and the project he did are attached as appendix 1 & 2.
“Mr Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike was also given admission in the National Open University of Nigeria under the scholarship granted by the Federal Government.
“He is now in 200 level in National Open University of Nigeria offering political Science. A copy of his admission letter is attached as appendix 3. And a copy of his ID Card in National Open University of Nigeria is attached as appendix 4.
“Mr Onwuamadike has also learnt technology under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; to wit, welding and metal fabrication and passed all tests. A copy of the test by Ministry of Labour and Productivity is attached as appendix 5.”
Justice Coker told the prosecuting lawyer, Mr A. Y. Sule and Chief Etudo to wait till March 20, when the decision of the committee set up by the Lagos government on Evans’ application would have been released.
Trending6 months ago
Politics6 months ago
Politics6 months ago
Politics6 months ago