Attempted murder: absence of defence counsel stalls trial of kidnap kingpin, Evans

 Attempted murder: absence of defence counsel stalls trial of kidnap kingpin, Evans

By Joseph Ayinde

Absence of counsel to the suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, yesterday stalled the hearing of his case before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of a Lagos High Court, sitting at Tarfa Balewa Square.

Evans is facing two separate charges, bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before Justice Akintoye.

In the first charge, Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

In the second charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Linus Okpara.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, the prosecuting counsel, Babatunde Sumonu, told the court that the case was for mention.

Mr. B. C. Mbam and Mr. O. A. Egbogbo, announced their appearance as counsel for the second and fourth defendants in the first charge.

Evans told the court that his counsel was Mr. Victor Opara and that he did not know why the lawyer was not in court.

Also, the third defendant, Nwachukwu, said his lawyer was aware of the proceeding date but did not know why the lawyer was absent.

In the second charge, Evans’ lawyer was also absent while counsel for other defendants was present.

However, Mr J. C. Jiakponna, counsel to the fourth defendant, Linus Okpara, urged the court for a date to move his client’s bail application.

Jiakponna said that the application had taken a long time.

Read More  Ortom sues Akume for N60b over alleged libel

In his response, the prosecutor said that they had filed a counter-affidavit against the bail application.

Justice Adedayo Akintoye, however, adjourned the case until January 21 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that hearing notices be issued to Evans counsel.

lagosstreetjournal

Related post