The alleged kidnapper, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike notoriously known as Evans, will know on 25th February 2022 if he will escape from the judicial net of Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
Evans, a native of Nnewi in Anambra State, according to channels news was charged for kidnapping-related matters, which contravened the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.
In the final written address of Victor Opara, Evans’ lawyer, he argued that “the victim said he was blindfolded throughout his 88-day ordeal, he did not state to the court in his testimony that he could physically identify Evans.” He noted that “there is also the fatality of the prosecution’s case that there was no identification parade to identify the first defendant (Evans).
“There was no evidence before your lordship to show that PW2 (Dunu) had a clear opportunity of identifying the first defendant.”
Nevertheless, the State prosecutor, Adebayo Haroun, asked the court to convict Evans as charged, saying “when a man has confessed to a crime, you do not need an identification parade.” He argued that “there is direct evidence of PW2 (Dunu) testifying of how he was kidnapped, how he escaped, and the roles each of the defendants played.”
“We have circumstantial evidence linking the first defendant (Evans) to the crime, and we also have confessional statements and video recordings of him. We urge your lordship to convict the defendants as charged,” he stated.
It is left for Justice Oshodi to decide who has a convincing argument. Until then, Evans will continue to number his days in jail.
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