Suspected kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans
Suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike,
popularly known as Evans, on Friday raised an alarm that prison
authorities for three days in a row, have denied him food, Tribune
Nigeria has reported.
Evans made the revelation during an argument which ensued between
him and prison officers immediately he was ushered into the courtroom.
His counsel Olukoya Ogungbeje, also attested to the fact that his
client is being starved. According to Evans, the prison authorities
deprived him of change of clothes, food, and access to having his bath
since Wednesday.
“This is unfair, I have not been given food and change of
clothes. I was not given an opportunity to bath on Wednesday. I am
seriously hungry now,” Evans lamented.
“They locked us in one place, no food, no bathing,” Evans shouted to the hearing of the reporters.
His fellow defendants also confirmed the development even as a senior NPS official denied the allegations.
Ogungbeje who was visibly angry by the development sought
permission to go and procure food for his clients, pleading that only a
living person that can stand trial.
Evans and five others were charged with conspiracy to commit the
felony and kidnapping contrary to section 411 of the Criminal Law Cap 17
Laws of Lagos State 2015, claims they have since denied.
Evans co-defendants are Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso Aduba.
At the commencement of Friday’s proceedings, counsel to the sixth
defendant, Emmanuel Ochai also corroborated all the defendants claims
that they had not been fed or allowed to have their bath in three days.
Responding to the allegations, the presiding judge, Justice HakeemOshodi, raised concerns about the welfare of the defendants.
“The Director of Public Prosecution should please investigate
this allegation. A defendant is innocent until he is proven guilty by a
competent court,” he said.
In her response, the Lagos State Prosecutor, Ms Titilayo
Shitta-Bey, told the court that the prosecution would promptly
investigate the allegations.
Earlier during the proceedings, Justice Oshodi dismissed an
application by the only female defendant, Ogechi Uchechukwu asking to
be released on bail.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi said he found no merit in her
application for bail, noting that the defendant has no concrete base in
Lagos and would constitute a flight risk.
“The 6th defendant claims that the police only arrested her
because she is the wife of one of the defendants. But according to the
prosecution, the No 21, Ishaye street, Igando apartment where the
victims of the kidnapping ring were allegedly kept, was rented in her
name.
“In her statement, she claimed that her husband and the 1st
defendant were business partners who deal in drugs, claims which need to
be proved before this court. I hereby find no merit in this
application, and the defendant should be kept in custody for her own
safety due to the severity of the case,” the judge ruled.
The matter could, however, could not go on as the 4th defendant had
no legal representation. The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till
January 19, 2018, for cross-examination of the first witness and
continuation of trial.
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