By Ajuma Edwina Ameh
After about five years trial, billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans and two others were on Friday given life sentences by a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja.
The two accomplices are Uchenna Amadi and Okuchuwkwu Nwachukwu.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi, who passed the life sentences , said the court convicted them of the two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping.
Persecondnews.com recalls that they had kidnapped the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Lagos, Donatus Dunu, on February 14, 2017.
Life sentenceS can last till the remainder of a person’s natural life with the convicted criminal having to die behind bars.
The prosecution told the court that on April 12, Evans alongside the five defendants while armed with guns and other weapons captured, detained, and collected a ransom of £223,000 from the family of Donatus for his release.
Pronouncing his verdict on Evans, the judge held that he observed the demeanor of the witness, stating that in some of the confessional videos played in court, Evans had mentioned some of the other defendants and the roles they played in the crime.
“He was seen freely laughing and willingly answered questions. A close look at his body shows no sign of torture. He did not look unkempt.
“He is seen laughing even when he was told that he must be a rich kidnapper.
“He showed no remorse in the dock and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence,” Justice Oshodi said.
He concluded that the evidence tendered before the court especially their video confessions corroborated their guilt.
Five persons were arraigned alongside Evans, but the court found only two of the defendants guilty.
The remaining three defendants — Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba — were, however, discharged and acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
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