The planned re-arraignment of convicted kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwamadike, popularly known as Evans, before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja was on Thursday stalled due to the absence of two of his co-defendants.
Evans was to be re-arraigned before Justice Adenike Coker alongside Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze and Udeme Upong for the attempted kidnap of Vincent Obianodo, the chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors.
However, due to the absence of Arinze and Upong, who are the fourth and fifth defendants, the matter could not proceed.
The defendants are facing a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sales and transfer of firearms.
According to the prosecution, Evans, Emeka, Arinze, and Ubong committed the offences on August 27, 2013, at Third Avenue in Festac Town, Lagos.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
When asked by Justice Coker the whereabouts of the other accomplices, the state prosecution, Mrs Titi Adeegbe, could not provide any helpful information on why they failed to appear before the court.
She informed the court that the third and fourth defendants were absent and that she had no information as to their current status.
But Evans’ counsel, Mrs Mary Dibiaeze, reminded the court that the third defendant had died, while the fourth defendant was discharged from the case.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the former judge who was handling the case before she retired, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, had informed lawyers in the matter that the court is in the procession of the death certificate of Arinze and based on the information contained in it, the deceased died of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Following the confusion, Justice Coker instructed the prosecution to tidy up its house and ensure that the counsels were properly served with the proof of evidence.
The judge then adjourned the matter until February 1, 2024 for arraignment.
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