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

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2024

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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Chaos As Military Officers Exchange Blows During Tinubu’s Visit To Bayelsa (Videos)

Published

5 days ago

April 12, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Personnel of the Nigerian military were seen engaging in a fight during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Bayelsa on Friday.

In a video spotted on social media, the driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” was seen stepping down from his vehicle and exchanging words with another driver.

After returning to his vehicle, another driver with a rifle approached him and threw a punch at the Naval Police driver, triggering a brawl.

The incident quickly escalated into a free-for-all, with personnel attached to both vehicles exchanging blows, while stunned civilians watched in disbelief.

HRH Ekwueme of Ochia Kingdom Iynched & kiIIed in Imo.

Published

5 days ago

April 11, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Gunmen on Friday night killed the traditional ruler of Ochia, Barr Paulinus Ekwueme, alongside security operatives in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. The attackers ambushed the monarch at the boundary of Assa and Ochia communities after he returned from a trip abroad earlier in the week.

Some security operatives in his convoy were also shot dead. Eyewitness said the monarch and the security operatives were set ablaze after the killing, adding that the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area had been thrown into mourning.

Hrm lives in America, but some in his town accuse him of acquiring lots of wealth coming from the oil in their land and yet they have no nepa (light) and other amenities, and that this angered the youths of his community to take this step. One said Ms Duruaku wrote, “he ate the youth empowerment meant given to him by shell oil company and ran abroad for years”

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Abuja hotel collapse: Wike orders arrest of owner, to convert land to public use

Published

1 week ago

April 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of a multi-story hotel that collapsed in Jikwoyi, Abuja last Friday, April 4 and announced that the land would be seized for public use.

LIB had reported that the building crumbled while workers were on site, triggering an emergency response from relevant authorities.

Visiting the site today April 7, Wike said the building was constructed without approval from the FCT Department of Development Control and that all the stop-work notices sent to the builders were ignored by the developer.

Wike confirmed that while there were no fatalities, several people sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. He warned that the outcome could have been far worse.

Announcing the government’s plans for the land, Wike said the FCT Administration will take over the land for public use, noting that those responsible for the illegal construction will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

He added that the local community would be consulted to determine a suitable public-purpose project for the reclaimed site.