The Lawyer representing self- confessed billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, on Wednesday told the court that there is no prima facie case against his client.
He therefore urged the court not only to quash the two charges filed against the kidnap suspect by the Lagos State Government, but to set his client free.
Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje who has been representing the self-confessed kidnapper told the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere that the charges against Evans are grossly defective, incompetent and an abuse of court processes.
The Lagos State Government, through the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) had also filed a fresh five-count charge of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder against Evans, Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.
But Mr. Ogungbeje argued that the state has failed to prove culpability of his Evans in any of the charges and the evidences front loaded before the court so far.
He also accused the state of harassing his client with duplication of charges before different courts.
According to the lawyer, the charges were meant to “harass, oppress, hound, frustrate, vex and intimidate” his client.
He said: “It will be in the interest of justice if all the two separate charges are quashed and the defendant is accordingly discharged.”
However, the State Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, said the proof of evidence contains material proof that establishes a crime of kidnapping against the Evans.
Ms. Shitta-Bey said that Evans conspired with other gang members to kidnap one Uche Okereafor.
She denied duplicating charges before different courts, stating that the charges before the other courts were on different incidents.
She said; “This particular charge is premised on Evans involvement in the kidnapping of Okereafor and collecting ransom in the sum of two million dollars from his family.”
The director urged the court to dismiss Mr. Ogungbeje’s submissions.
The presiding judge, Justice Adedayo Akintoye adjourned to March 22, 2018 for ruling.