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Convicted kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, has again made a case for plea bargain claiming that he is no longer a criminal.
In his plea bargain application which he put before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, the convict said that he is now a teacher at the correctional centre, in Kirikiri after obtaining a teaching diploma certificate in economics from the Yewa College of Education.
He also said that he was prepared to surrender all his property to the Lagos State Government including his 14 brand new trucks which could be sold with the proceeds transferred to the victims of his criminal activities.
This is the second time Evans has approached the court seeking a plea bargain on compassionate grounds.
On January 30, 2025, he made his first request before Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos High Court, ikeja.
The convicted kidnapper had five criminal cases across various high courts in Lagos State. Two of these cases have already resulted in convictions, one of which carries a life sentence, while the other was for a 21 year prison term.
At the proceedings on Thursday before Justice Sherifat Sonaike, his lawyer, Etudo Emefo, told the court that the convict was remorseful and had undergone a transformation during his time at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.
He pleaded with the Lagos State Government for mercy, explaining that without their forgiveness, the Federal Government’s scholarship granted to the convict would be rendered useless.
He said Evans, as a result of the scholarship, had earned a National Certificate Education in Economics and is now a teacher.
Copies of the NCE certificate and project work were also submitted before the court as appendices to the plea bargain application.
The prosecuting counsel, Alaba kuku, confirmed to the court that the state government had received the application and set up a committee to consider it.
Counsel representing Evans co-defendants also confirmed that they were all applying for a plea bargain even though the third defendant counsel said he was yet to submit his application to the state government.
Evans and his co-defendants, Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Linus Opara, are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and attempted murder before Justice Sonaike, who began the case afresh in January 2023, following the retirement of Justice Adedayo Akintoye.
Justice Sonaike has adjourned the case till April, 17, 2025, for a report on the plea bargain application or trial, if the plea bargain does not succeed.
