The convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has been re-arraigned by the Lagos State Government on fresh charges bordering on murder and attempted murder.
Evans was brought before the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday, alongside his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, where they were both docked on a five-count charge of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
The case, presided over by Justice A. O. Ogala, saw both defendants plead not guilty to the charges read against them.
According to the prosecution, Evans and his accomplice allegedly conspired to murder two police officers during their criminal operations before his eventual arrest in 2017.
Evans, once regarded as Nigeria’s most notorious kidnapper, was arrested on June 10, 2017, at his residence in Magodo, Lagos, after months of intensive surveillance and intelligence gathering by the Nigeria Police Force.
Investigators revealed that Evans masterminded a highly organized kidnapping syndicate targeting wealthy individuals, from whom he extracted millions of dollars in ransom payments.
Several luxury cars and properties traced to him were recovered by the police following his arrest.
In February 2022, a Lagos High Court sentenced Evans to life imprisonment after convicting him of kidnapping and conspiracy, describing him as a “criminal mastermind” whose activities inflicted untold hardship on his victims and their families.
Monday’s re-arraignment marks another phase in the long-running series of criminal prosecutions against the embattled kidnapper, who is now facing fresh murder-related charges.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing.
