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Re-Arraignment of Billionaire Kidnapper Evans Postponed Due to Lawyer’s No-Show

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Re-Arraignment of Billionaire Kidnapper Evans Postponed Due to Lawyer’s No-Show

The re-arraignment of convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, was once again delayed on Thursday at the Lagos State High Court due to the absence of his legal counsel. Justice Adenike Coker, presiding over the case, inquired about the whereabouts of Evans’ lawyer, to which Evans replied that he was uncertain whether his attorney would appear.

Evans, along with his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, faces an amended five-count charge, including accusations of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit felony with kidnapping, and further attempts to kill. Justice Coker, concerned about the absence, then turned to the counsel for the second defendant, Nelson Onyejaka, to shed light on the situation. Onyejaka informed the court that he had attempted to contact Evans’ lawyer several times but was unable to reach him, noting that the attorney was not based in Lagos.

“Your Lordship, I attempted to reach him by phone, but his line was unreachable. Even this morning, I made further attempts, but there was no response,” Onyejaka explained.

Following this, the State Prosecutor, Yusuf Sule, expressed frustration with the repeated delays, stating that the session had been intended for re-arraignment. He requested an adjournment due to the absence of Evans’ counsel but voiced concerns about ongoing delays attributed to the first defendant.

“This delay has been ongoing since the beginning of the case,” Sule remarked. “It is essential that the first defendant either secures a lawyer based in Lagos or appoints another representative to avoid further setbacks.”

Sule also reminded the court that the case has been pending since 2017. He mentioned that Evans had previously applied for a plea bargain but expressed uncertainty over whether he still wished to pursue it.

Justice Coker, after hearing the prosecutor’s statements, instructed the prosecution to ensure the presence of a representative from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) at the next hearing. She emphasized that should Evans’ counsel fail to appear again, the OPD could step in to represent him to prevent further delays.

“On the next adjournment date, if the defense counsel does not attend, the OPD will represent the first defendant so that the arraignment can proceed,” Justice Coker declared.

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Gunmen k!ll President General of Ogidi community and one other in Anambra.

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Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.

The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.

The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.

During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.

Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.

“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

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Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos

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Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.

According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.

He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.

“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.

The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said

The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.

“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said

According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.

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Catholic Priest Collapses And D!es In Front Of Congregation While Walking To Tabernacle To Return Holy Communion

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A Catholic priest has tragically passed away after suddenly collapsing in front of the congregation during Sunday mass.

The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he “suddenly” collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna.

“Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church,” the statement said.

The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes.

The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highly regarded far beyond the community.

Rasner praised him as an “extremely conscientious, sensitive priest” and also emphasized the personal loss of a friendship that had grown over many years.

A prayer service was organized at short notice for the late priest. It was attended by numerous priests from the deanery as well as Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.

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