The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has adjourned trial of suspected kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, otherwise known as Evans to November 3, 2017, at the instance of some of the defence lawyers who have just come into the matter.
They made a case to be given time to study the processes filed in court especially the proof of evidence against the defendants.
The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP Lagos State, Titilayo Shitta-Bey declined to comment on the proceedings but a lawyer in her team (who spoke to Channels Television off camera off camera) says they amended the charges because the previous one would have earned the defendants a 25year jail term on conviction but the amended charges stipulates life imprisonment upon conviction.
Earlier today during the trial, Evans pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and Kidnapping of one Dunu Donatus.
The offence allegedly committed in February 2017.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to the two-count charge at his arraignment on Aug 30, 2017.
The court reconvened at 11.45am and the amended charges have been read to all six defendants and they all pleaded “not guilty”.
The Prosecution has indicated their readiness to proceed with the trial.
They have three witnesses in court to testify.
But on August 30, 2017, he pleaded guilty to two counts bordering on kidnapping.
This follows his arraignment before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at the High Court in Lagos by the state government.
The suspect was arraigned alongside five others; Uche Amadi, Ogechi Izechuwku, Okechukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso.
Their arraignment at the court was witnessed by a large crowd of interested parties while there was a heavy presence of security personnel.
Following the plea of all six defendants, the Attorney General of Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem, who led the prosecution, asked for a trial date and for all defendants to be remanded in prison custody.
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