Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwamadike a.k.a Evans has urged the Lagos High Court Ikeja, to consider his application for plea bargain, forgiveness and clemency.
Praying the court through his new lawyer, Chief Emefo Otudo, after he was re-arraigned on a five-count charge of alleged murder and kidnapping, Onwamadike urged the authorities to give him another chance to turn a new leave.
In the charge filed before Justice Adenike Coker, Evans and one Joseph Nkenna Emeka pleaded not guilty to alleged kidnapping and murder.
According to Evans lawyer, Chief Etudo, the substance of Evans’ application for plea bargain, is with respect to three pending criminal cases on compassionate grounds.
He had earlier been convicted in two other cases with 14 years imprisonment and life jail respectively.
His lawyer told Justice Coker that having been converted to a reasonable human being and being a criminal to a teacher charged entirely Evans name should be graciously dropped from the three pending charges.
He submitted: “That a fresh charge be discretionarily filed against the first defendant upon which he will plead guilty and serve 14 years imprisonment If approved.
“That the 14 years imprisonment that may be imposed in the new charge be made to run concurrently with other sentences that might have been given in his other cases listed above.
“Our authority for bringing this application is attached as Appendix 6 and this application supersedes and overrides any previous application made by or on behalf of Mr Onwuamadike for plea bargain.
Speaking further Chief Otudo told the court that there are five criminal cases against Evans and Lagos state has been prosecuting him for those cases and have gained conviction in two.
He said during the cause of the prosecution Evans has been incarcerated for about eight years.
“While in prison, the Federal Government offered the first defendant and other inmates a second chance and offered them opportunity to to go to school.
“The first defendant (Evans) accepted offer to be educated as they were given scholarship by Federal Government. He has now earned an NCE teaching certificate in Economics.
“He is now a teacher and no longer a criminal. Copy of his NCE certificate and the project he did are attached as appendix 1 & 2.
“Mr Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike was also given admission in the National Open University of Nigeria under the scholarship granted by the Federal Government.
“He is now in 200 level in National Open University of Nigeria offering political Science. Copy of his admission letter is attached as appendix 3. And copy of his ID Card in National Open University of Nigeria is attached as appendix 4.
“Mr Onwuamadike has also learnt technology under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; to wit, welding and metal fabrication and passed all tests. Copy of the test by Ministry of Labour and Productivity is attached as appendix 5.
Justice Coker told both the Prosecuting lawyer, Mr A. Y. Sule and Chief Otudo representing both parties to wait till when decision of the committee set up by the Lagos State government on Evan’s application would have been released.
The court therefore adjourned the matter till March 20, 2025 for further report on plea bargain.
