A convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, better known as Evans, has got a new counsel to handle his case.
Victor Opala, SAN, his former counsel, withdrew from his case sometimes in early March 2022.
This is Evans’ fourth counsel since he was arraigned in 2017.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court had ordered Evans to get a legal representation following the withdrawal of the former counsel.
Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka for allegedly attempting to kidnap the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo.
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At the resumption of the trial, Mr Emmanuel Ochai, a counsel to the co-defendant of Evans in a sister case, held a brief for Chief Chuks Muoma (SAN), the new Evan’s counsel.
Chief Chuks Muoma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is the chairman of the Igbo Lawyers Association (ILA) based in Aba, Abia State and a one-time lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo had during the proceedings on March 28 expressed displeasure over the absence of the defendants.
She queried one of the warders from the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre who was present in court why the defendants were not brought to court for their trial.
Responding to the query, the warder told the court that there was a mix up on the date, adding that the date on their record for the appearance of the defendants was April 28.
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Justice Taiwo had on March 11 ordered Evans to get a legal representative before the next date of an adjournment or be ready to defend himself.
Frank Udeme, one of the co-defendants of Evans had been sentenced to five years imprisonment on March 11.
Udeme had pleaded guilty to selling firearms to Evans.
According to the prosecution, Evans and Emeka committed the offences on Aug. 27, 2013, at Third Avenue in Festac Town, Lagos.
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Evans and his accomplice are alleged to have killed one Ngozi Chijioke and attempted to kidnap and kill Obianodo.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms over the attempted kidnap of Obianodo.
The judge adjourned the case until June 15 for trial.
