Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, has fixed September 19, 2022 to determine the fate of Kidnap Kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans over kidnapping allegations.
The judge gave the date after both prosecutor and defences counsel adopted their final written addresses in the trial.
Adopting defence final written address, the defence counsels called for inquiry into the death of three witnesses in police custody during the trial of the kidnap kingpin.
They told the court that the three witnesses which were standing trial with the two died in police custody and that no autopsy was done to reveal the circumstances surrounding their deaths and that the fact that they died in custody whereas they were haled and hearty when they were arrested by the police raises serious questions into the confessional statements obtained from the leader of the gang.
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The two defence counsel, Emmanuel Ochai and his colleague told the court that the prosecution has failed in several areas to prove the case against Evans and his colleague beyond reasonable doubt and urged the court to discharge and acquit them.
In a counter reaction, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule however prayed that the first and second defendants be convicted accordingly.
He said that a defendant need not be seen at the scene of the crime to be convicted, stressing that though the confession of one person cannot be used against another person, there are exemptions, where the nexus correlates and interwoven, quoting a Supreme Court judgement.
He said there is nothing before the court that showed they were tortured or killed. “No evidence to suggest that. No evidence before the court that they were hailed and hearty as at the time of arrest.
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After entertaining submission of counsels, the judge adjourned for judgement on September 19, 2022.
Evans is standing trial alongside Aduba, an ex-soldier, for kidnapping a businessman, Sylvanus Ahamonu and collecting 420,000 dollars ransom from his family.
They are facing a four-count charge bordering on kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
