Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, the kidnapping kingpin popularly known as Evans, has opted for a plea bargain agreement in a case bordering on kidnapping and attempted murder.
As part of his plea bargain, Evans has offered to surrender his 14 brand-new trucks to the Lagos state government.
He agreed that the trucks would be sold, and the proceeds would be transferred to the victims of his criminal activities.
He is also prepared to give up all his other properties as part of the agreement if the court considers his request on compassionate grounds.
In his plea bargain application, which he put before Sherifat Sonaike, the presiding judge, on Thursday, Evans said he is now a teacher at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre after obtaining a teaching diploma certificate in economics from the Yewa College of Education.
This is the second time Evans has approached the court seeking a plea bargain on compassionate grounds.
On January 30, he made his first request before Adenike Coker, the judge of a Lagos high court in Ikeja.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Evans’ lawyer, Etudo Emefo, told the court that his client was remorseful and had undergone a transformation during his time at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.
He pleaded with the Lagos state government for leniency, explaining that without their forgiveness, the federal government’s scholarship granted to the convict would be useless.
He said Evans, as a result of the scholarship, had earned a national certificate of education (NCE) 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.
Evans’ co-defendants—Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba, and Linus Opara—are also negotiating plea deals with the Lagos state government.
But counsel to the third defendant said he was yet to submit his application to the state government.
All four defendants are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder.
The case has been adjourned till April 17, for a report on the plea bargain application or trial, if the plea bargain does not succeed.
