The court has adjourned the hearing of notorious kidnap kingpin Evans after his absence from the proceedings. The case continues to capture national attention.
A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has postponed the arraignment and plea bargain outcome of convicted kidnapping mastermind, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, commonly known as Evans, to November 21.
The hearing for the plea bargain application submitted by the kidnapping kingpin was postponed on Thursday because neither Evans nor his lawyer were present in court.
The prosecution, represented by the Lagos State Government, was also not present.
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emekam, are being tried on a five-count charge involving conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder brought against them by the Lagos Government.
At the court’s most recent session on May 11, prosecution attorney Yusuf Sule informed the judge that the defendants had requested a plea bargain agreement.
He also disclosed that the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, SAN, was reviewing the terms of the plea bargain.
When the case was presented on Thursday, Nelson Onyejaka’s counsel for Evans’s co-defendant expressed surprise at the absence of both the prosecution and the first defendant’s lawyer.
Justice Coker directed that a production warrant be issued to facilitate the defendants’ arraignment on November 21. Additionally, she postponed proceedings pending a report on the outcome of the plea bargain discussions.
