NewsShock As FG offers University Scholarship To Convicted Kidnap Kingpin, Evans

Shock As FG offers University Scholarship To Convicted Kidnap Kingpin, Evans

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By Adesina Soyooye

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Evans tells Court that thanks to FG and RCCG, he has denounced his criminal activities, become a changed man, and is seeking a plea-bargain!

Shock greeted the revelation at a Lagos High Court on Thursday when it was disclosed that convicted kidnap kingpin,  Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, popular as Evans, is now a student of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN. Evans, under prosecution by the Federal Government for series of alleged kidnappings and murders,  is not only a 200- level student of NOUN, but is attending it free of charge, courtesy of the scholarship granted him by the Federal Government.

On appearance on Thursday, Evans  told a Lagos State High Court,  Ikeja, that he has become a good citizen, and has denounced all his sins, and  repented of all his criminal activities.

Based on this  self-acclaimed repentance, he has applied to the Lagos State Government to forgive him of all his crimes and grant him mercy.

His Lawyer, Emefo Etudo, who addressed the Honourable Court on his behalf, stated this after Evans took  his plea on the  five amended counts which  border on murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, all  preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

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Addressing the Court, prosecuting Lawyer, Sule Yusuf, said that the matter was starting de novo and urged the court to re-arraign the defendants. There was no objection to that from Etudo, who represented Evand and his co-defendant, C.N Udeh.

According to the prosecution, on or about 10.pm,  August 27, 2013, along 3rd Avenue, FESTAC Town, in Lagos, Evans and Joseph Emeka, allegedly, killed one Peter Nweke. Both men also allegedly killing one Chijioke Ngozi on the same day.

Expectedly, Evans and Emeka pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

It was at this juncture, based on their not-guilty plea, that the Prosecution Counsel, Sule, asked the Court to further remand the defendants. He, however, disclosed to the Court that Evans, who is the first defendant has applied for plea bargaining through his Lawyer,  Etudo, while Emeka,  the second defendant also applied for same plea bargain  through his own Counsel.

Addressing the trial Judge, Justice Adenike Coker, Etudo disclosed that despite the amended charge and the not-guilty  plea by Evans,  he has applied to the Lagos State Government through the Attorney-General’s office for a plea bargain.

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His words: “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 of the National Open University.

“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.”

Sule said he was aware of Evans’ application for a plea bargain, and added that the appropriate committee will consider it.

Sule: “My Lord, I can confirm that the first 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.”

Justice Coker adjourned the matter to March 20, 2025, for trial.

Etudo, who then addressed Journalists after Court proceedings said that thanks to the effort of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Federal Government, his client has become an unbelievably changed person.

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Etudo: “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.”

Recall that Evans has, since when he was arrested by scores of Police Operatives at his Magodo Phase 2 residence, for sundry allegations including kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, has been under detention and prosecution. He has already been convicted on, at least, one of the offences, and is facing a couple more along with his co-defendant.

At the zenith of his notorious outings, his victims allegedly paid him in US Dollars upto the tune of One million. One of his most alleged daring outings was in FESTAC Lagos where he attempted to abduct Chief Vincent Obianodo, the owner of Young Shall Grow Motors. The Chief got away with near-fatal gunshot injuries.


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