“Kidnap Kingpin Evans Tells Court He Has Repented, Seeks Mercy”

Convicted kidnap kingpin Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, has told a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja that he has repented from his criminal activities and has formally applied to the Lagos State Government for mercy.

Evans made the statement through his lawyer, Emefo Etudo, after being re-arraigned on an amended set of charges, including murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which were brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

When the matter was called, the state prosecuting counsel, Sule Yusuf, informed the court that the case would be starting de novo (from the beginning) and requested the re-arraignment of Evans and his co-defendant, C.N Udeh. Both defendants did not object to this request.

The prosecution accused Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, of killing Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi on August 27, 2013, in FESTAC Town, Lagos. The accused both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their not-guilty plea, the prosecution requested that the defendants remain in custody. However, Etudo informed the court that Evans had applied for a plea bargain through the Lagos State Government’s Attorney-General’s office, expressing his remorse for his past actions.

Etudo told the court that his client had undergone significant personal transformation. “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 at the National Open University of Nigeria. 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.”

Etudo also revealed that Evans had applied to the Lagos State Government to allow him to visit schools across the state to talk to youths about the dangers of crime.

Sule Yusuf confirmed Evans’ plea bargain application, stating that the appropriate committee would review the request.

After hearing the submissions, Justice Adenike Coker adjourned the case until March 20, 2025, for a potential trial.

Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, Etudo highlighted the positive changes in his client’s life. He noted that Evans’ transformation was largely due to efforts from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and the scholarship provided by the Federal Government.

“My client is now a changed man. He has been transformed,” Etudo said, emphasizing that the support from RCCG and the scholarship had played key roles in Evans’ reformation.