Convicted kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has applied for a plea bargain and clemency before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.
His new lawyer, Chief Emefo Etudo, informed the court of the application shortly after Evans was re-arraigned on a five-count charge of kidnapping and murder, brought by the Lagos State Government.
Appearing before Justice Adenike Coker, Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Nkenna Emeka, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Chief Etudo told the court that Evans’ plea bargain request covers three pending criminal cases and two others on compassionate grounds.
He noted that his client had already been convicted in two previous cases.
The defence lawyer argued that Evans had undergone a transformation and should be considered for leniency.
He proposed that a fresh charge be filed against Evans, to which he would plead guilty in exchange for a 14-year prison sentence.
Etudo further requested that the sentence run concurrently with those from his previous convictions.
“Our authority for bringing this application is attached as Appendix 6, and this application supersedes any previous plea bargain requests made by or on behalf of Mr. Onwuamadike,” he submitted.
Etudo highlighted Evans’ efforts at rehabilitation, revealing that he had spent about eight years in incarceration and had taken advantage of educational opportunities offered by the Federal Government.
“While in prison, Evans accepted the opportunity to further his education under a Federal Government scholarship.
He has obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and is now a certified teacher,” Etudo said.
He also disclosed that Evans is currently a 200-level Political Science student at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and has acquired vocational skills in welding and metal fabrication under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
Supporting documents, including Evans’ NCE certificate, NOUN admission letter, and vocational training certification, were submitted as evidence.
The prosecution, represented by Mr. A. Y. Sule, did not immediately respond to the plea bargain request. Justice Coker adjourned the case to March 20, pending the decision of a Lagos State Government committee reviewing Evans’ application.
