Billionaire kidnapper Chukwudimeme ‘Evans’ Onwuamadike says he’s a dealer in ornaments and Horlicks and not guilty of the two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping brought against him and his five co-defendants.
Led in evidence by his defense counsel, Victor Okpara, Evans Tuesday denied all allegations of kidnapping levelled against him by the Lagos State Government, insisting he was a legitimate businessman.
He said his nickname was not Evans and that he was coerced into admitting being a kidnapper after the police, in a bid to make him confess, extra-judicially killed four individuals in his presence.
“I live at Fred Shoboyede Street, Magodo Phase II, Lagos.
I am a businessman and I deal in ornaments and Horlicks.
My lord, my name is not Evans and I don’t have a nickname,” he said.
He said prior to being apprehended by the authorities, he had never met his five co-defendants, except for the day they were paraded as members of a kidnap syndicate by the police at Area F Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos.
Evans, Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba were arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi on Aug. 31, 2017 for the kidnap of Donatus Dunu, the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
According to the prosecution, Mr Dunu was kidnapped on Ilupeju Road, Lagos and the defendants allegedly collected 223,000 Euros as ransom from Mr Dunu’s family.
All the defendants during the criminal trial have maintained their innocence.
Justice Oshodi gave the defence 30 days to file their final written addresses and the prosecution another 30 days to respond to the defence addresses.
The case was adjourned until November 5 for the adoption of the final written addresses.
