Convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, on Thursday, informed the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja that he had repented from his criminal past and had applied to the Lagos State Government for clemency.
Evans, through his lawyer, Emefo Etudo, made this known after pleading to an amended five-count charge brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
The charges include murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
At the court hearing, the state prosecuting counsel, Sule Yusuf, informed Justice Adenike Coker that the case was starting afresh and requested that the defendants be re-arraigned. Neither Evans nor his co-defendant, C.N. Udeh, objected to the request.
The prosecution alleged that Evans and Joseph Emeka were responsible for the murder of Peter Nweke on August 27, 2013, at about 10 p.m. along 3rd Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos. They were also accused of killing one Chijioke Ngozi on the same day.
Both Evans and Emeka pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, Yusuf requested the court to further remand the defendants. However, he also confirmed that Evans had applied for a plea bargain through his lawyer, while Emeka had done the same through his counsel.
Etudo emphasized his client’s repentance and reformation, stating:
“Our focus in this matter is the plea bargain which we have submitted to the state government.
“My client is now a repentant person. He was a young man consumed by crime but he is now remorseful. Presently, he is a 200-level student at the National Open University of Nigeria.
“In fact, he made A1 in all his papers in NECO while in prison. All this was made possible through a scholarship given to him by the Federal Government.
“My lord, we have asked the Lagos State Government to give him the opportunity to go around schools in the state to talk to youths about the dangers of crime.”**
Yusuf confirmed receiving the plea bargain request, stating that the appropriate committee would review it.
“My lord, I can confirm that the 1st defendant (Evans) has indeed applied for a plea bargain and it was served on us. We shall be examining it. The second defendant has also made a similar application.”
Following these submissions, Justice Coker adjourned the case to March 20, 2025, for possible trial.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, Etudo reiterated that Evans had undergone significant transformation, crediting religious and governmental efforts for his rehabilitation.
“My client is now a changed man. He has been transformed. His reformation was made possible by the RCCG and the Federal Government which gave him a scholarship to study and become a better person.”
