Notorious Kidnap Kingpin Evans Re-Arraigned for Alleged Police Killings

The Lagos State Government has re-arraigned convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, over the alleged murder of two police officers.

Evans was re-arraigned on Monday alongside his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, before Justice A. O. Ogala of the Lagos State High Court on a five-count charge bordering on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to kidnap.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the prosecution, Evans and Emeka allegedly killed Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi, two police officers, on August 27, 2013, in the Festac area of Lagos. They were also accused of attempting to kidnap Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors.

The case, which was initially before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, had to be reassigned following her retirement.

The defendants remain in custody at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre after being convicted in other criminal cases.

Evans, who has faced multiple criminal prosecutions, once sought a plea bargain with the Lagos State Government, though the effort was unsuccessful.

In February 2022, Justice Akeem Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court convicted Evans and two others on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping. The trio were found guilty of abducting Donatus Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd., and collecting £223,000 (approximately ₦100 million) as ransom.

They were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment on February 25, 2022.