Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, will be re-arraigned before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos State.
The arraignment will commence on January 26 alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Okapara Linus.
This is after over four years of Evans arraignment on two separate kidnapping-related charges before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Igbosere High Court, in the state.
It was learnt that both case files were moved from the judge in charge to Justice Sonaike with an expectation that the trial will start de novo (anew).
Justice Akintoye was in charge of the case of Evans and his co-defendants which was brought before the court in May 2018. However the judge is winding down her cases ahead of retirement.
However, the absence of the counsels of Evans, as well as that of the third and fourth defendants, stalled the case.
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When the case was called yesterday for the re-arraignment of Evans and others, prosecution counsel Mr. M.O. Olateju announced an appearance for the prosecution while Mr Osho appeared for the 2nd defendant.
The alleged kidnap kingpin was arrested on June 10, 2017.
Evans was in 2018 arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court for kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Donatus Dunu on February 14, 2017, and collecting 223,000 Euros as ransom from his family
Justice Oshodi, on February 25, 2022, found Evans and two others guilty of kidnapping.
He sentenced Evans to life imprisonment.
Evans was also arraigned for kidnapping before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of Igbosere High Court, in Lagos island before the judge was transferred to the Ikeja division.
He and his co-defendant Victor Aduba were accused of conspiring and kidnapping Sylvanus Ahanonu Hafia at about 5:30 pm on June 23, 2014, at Kara Street, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos and were alleged to have captured and detained Hafia and demanded a ransom of $2m.
Justice Taiwo on September 19, 2022, sentenced the duo to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping Hafia