Billionaire Kidnapper Evans, go broke, unable to pay lawyers

Due to allege kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans inability to afford his legal bills, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja high court has ordered the Lagos State Office of Public Defense(OPD) to take over his defense.

On Friday, Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), told the court that his team contacted the law chambers of Ladi Williams (SAN) and Co, who represented Evans on the last court date via telephone.

Onigbanjo disclosed that they were made aware that Evans had not “perfected their brief”.

The kidnap kingpin has changed lawyers more than three times during the course of his trial

Messers Olukoya Ogungbeje, Noel Brown and Olanrewaju Ajanaku, have represented him.

Justice Oshodi said Evans had constituted a habit of engaging the services of lawyers that “disappeared halfway through trial.”

This, he argued, has caused more delay in the case.

“There are five other defendants with different counsel, the interest of the first defendant (Evans) is not superior to those of the other defendants”, NAN quoted him as saying.

He stated that the court “will not breach Section 36(6) of the 1999 Constitution by going ahead with today’s business of the court which is the hearing of the no-case submissions”.

Justice Oshodi adjourned until August 14 for ruling and possible continuation of trial.

The defendants, Evans and his conspirators, are standing trial over the alleged kidnap of Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Ltd.

This, he decried, has caused delays in the case.