The billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (popularly known as Evans), has changed his guilty plea to two-count of amended charges of conspiracy and kidnapping to “not guilty.” Evans made the plea while appearing before, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court on Thursday, he pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit felony to wit kidnapping under Section 411 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws and also to kidnapping.
Both offences were said to have been committed on the 14th February, 2017. Evans had at his arraignment on Aug. 30 plead guilty to the charges, while other alleged accomplices — Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, the only female defendant, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba denied committing the offences.
According to the prosecution led by Ms. P.K. Shitta-bey, the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Evans and his accomplices committed the offence of conspiracy at 7.45 p.m. on Feb. 14 on Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos. The prosecution said the defendants between Feb. 14 and April 12 at Obokun Street, Ilupeju, while armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, captured and detained Duru.
The defendants allegedly collected a ransom of 223,000 euros for the release of Donatius. The defence lawyers pleaded with the judge to be given time to study the proof of evidence against the defendants. Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until Nov. 3 to enable the defence to prepare for trial.
