The re-arraignment of convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans was stalled by the absence of his lawyer on Thursday before Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
When his matter was called for re-arraignment and expected to be followed by a plea bargain, Justice Coker asked the defendant where is his lawyer and why didn’t he inform him about his case slated for today.
Evans responded “I’m not sure if my lawyer is coming.”
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, are to be re-arraigned on an amended five counts of murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.
The judge also asked the counsel to the second defendant, Nelson Onyejaka why didn’t he inform Evans lawyer about the slated hearing.
Onyejaka explained to the court, “My Lord I tried his number and is not going, even this morning I tried his number and he is not based in Lagos.”
The State Prosecutor, Yusuf Sule told the court that the matter for today was suppose to be for re-arraignment, but won’t go on due to the absent of the first defendant counsel and he prayed to the court for a further date and also urge the court to place an order on the first defendant counsel.
“It’s been a trend from the onset, from the beginning of the institution of this matter, the first defendant is the one that has been delaying this matter.”
“It’s high time he gets a lawyer in Lagos or brief another lawyer to stand in for him so the matter can go on.”
Sule further added that the matter is a 2017 matter and also told the court that the defendant applied for a plea bargain which he doesn’t know if he is still interested to go on with it.
Thereafter, the judge ordered the prosecution to ensure that the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, is on ground on the next date of adjournment.
According to the judge, “OPD can represent the first defendant if his counsel is not present in court because the arraignment must go on at the next date of adjournment.”
Justice Coker adjourned the case to January 30, 2025 for re-arraignment and order the first defendant to get his lawyer on the adjourned date.
