Lagos High Court has ordered kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, to refund the sum of €233,000 ransom he collected from one of his victims, Chief Donatus Dunu, a pharmacist and Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceutical Company.
The presiding judge, Olukayode Ogunjobi, also ordered the convicted kidnapper to pay the sum of N50 million as general damages to Dunu.
The pharmacist was abducted on Valentine’s Day 14 of February, 2017 by a gang led by Evans and was held hostage, before he escaped from captivity.
But Dunu said the kidnap gang had collected the sum of €233,000 as ransom from his relations before he escaped from their custody.
Consequently, Dunu, filed suit before the court demanding the return of the sum of £223, 000 he paid as ransom while in the custody of the kidnap kingpin.
He also demanded for payment of N50 million as damages.
The Pharmacist said Evans collected the ransom from his brothers, Anslem Dunu and Innocent Dunu while he was in the custody of his gang, but he refused to release him.
He added that eventually, he escaped from captivity of the kidnap gang.
One of those who paid the ransom to Evans, Anslem told the court also narrated how he paid the ransom after his brother was abducted on 14th February, 2017, in his testimony at the court.
He said his brother instructed him through the phone to pay his abductors N100 million as ransom for his release a day after he was abducted.
Anselm added that abductors of his brother later demanded for £1 million.
But he said his relation, one Uchenna Okagwu delivered Euros233,000 to the Evans led kidnap gang.
In his defence, Evans said the only evidence placed before the court was that Uchenna Okagwu who allegedly delivered the money to the abductors.
He added that in the criminal trial in Suit No. 1D/5970C/2017, Uchenna Okagwu testified that he dropped the said sum on the ground and fled and that he did not see anybody or delivered the money to anyone.
He further argued that the evidence of Uchenna Okagwu who delivered the said ransom to the abductors which is the only direct evidence must pass the test of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
He also said the judgment delivered by Justice O.H. Oshodi on 25 February declaring him and two others guilty of kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and collecting 223,000 Euros as ransom from his family is under appeal.
But in his judgment, Justice Ogunjobi held that the Evans gave inconsistent evidence and cannot be rewarded as a truthful witness.
The Judge stated further that having watched the demeanour of the Evans in the witness box while giving evidence, he came to the conclusion that he was not a witness of truth, and his evidence cannot be trusted.
“Aside adducing conflicting pieces of evidence on oath, I have watched the demeanour of the Defendant in the witness box when giving evidence and came to the conclusion that the Defendant is not a witness of truth. I do not believe his evidence. I accept the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence of the Claimant and his witnesses. The evidence supports the reliefs sought by the Claimant.
“Consequently, the claimant is entitled to be paid or repaid and or recover from the Defendant, the sum of Euro 233,000 (Two Hundred and Thirty-Three Euros) ransom coercively paid by the Claimant to Defendant when the Defendant kidnapped the Claimant in the year 2017 and held the Claimant hostage for months.
“The sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) is awarded as general damages in favour of the Claimant against the Defendant.
“Post judgment interest is awarded on the said sum of Euro233,000 at the rate of 10% per annum from judgment i.e. 14″ of February, 2023 until final liquidation. The adjudged said sum of Euros 233,000 (Two Hundred and Thirty-Three Euros) and N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) is hereby ordered to be paid or recovered from the Assets of the Defendant. This is the Judgment of the Court.”
The court however refused the claim for pre-judgement interest of 40 percent per annum on the €233,000.
