The Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja on Friday, sentenced kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans and two others – Uchenna Amadi and Okuchuwkwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment.
Trial judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi handed out the sentence to the trio after convicting them on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Donatus Duru.
Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge against the trio beyond any reasonable doubt.
The judge held that he observed the demeanour of the witness, stating that in some of the confessional videos played in court, Evans had mentioned some of the other defendants and the roles they played in the crime.
“He was seen freely laughing and willingly answered questions. A close look at his body shows no sign of torture. He did not look unkempt. He is seen laughing even when he was told that he must be a rich kidnapper.
“He showed no remorse in the dock and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence”, the judge held.
The judge noted that the evidence tendered before the court by the prosecution especially their video confessions corroborated their guilt.
However, three others- Ogechi Uchechukwu and two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, were discharged and acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
Evans alongside Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, and Victor Aduba were arraigned by Lagos State Government in August 2017, for kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu, on February 14, 2017 at about 7:45 pm, along Obokun Street, in the Ilupeju area of Lagos.
The offence was committed between February 14 and April 12, 2017.
According to the prosecution, on April 12, Evans alongside the other five defendants while armed with guns and other weapons captured, detained and collected a ransom of 223,000 euros from Donatus for his release.
During the trial, the prosecution presented four witnesses, including the victim, Duru while the defence presented six witnesses including Evans who testified in his own defence. Evans is currently facing similar charges before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo and Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos High Court.