Due to the absence of two other co-defendants, Chukwudumeme Onwamadike, commonly known as Evans, the kidnapping kingpin, had a difficult time re-arraigning on Thursday.

Evans was arraigned before Justice Adenike Coker of an Ikeja High Court with Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze, and Udeme Upong.

The first and second defendants, Evans and Emeka, were in court; however, the third and fourth defendants, Arinze and Upong, were not.

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Justice Coker questioned the prosecution regarding the other two defendants’ whereabouts and the reason behind their non-appearance in court.

Before the next adjourned date, she encouraged the prosecution to clean up its act and make sure the attorneys were provided with proof of evidence.

The judge then postponed the case until February 1 to schedule the arraignment.

The third and fourth defendants were absent, and the Lagos State Prosecutor, Ms Titi Adeegbe, informed the court that she did not know their present whereabouts.

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Earlier, Ms Mary Dibiaeze, the defence attorney for Evans, reminded the court that the third defendant had passed away and the fourth had been released from custody.

The second defendant’s attorney, Mr Nelson Onyejaka, told the court that the prosecution had not yet provided them with proof of evidence.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Evans was found guilty and given a life sentence by Judge Hakeem Oshodi sometime in February 2022.

Before her retirement, retired Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo sentenced Evans and his co-defendants to 21 years in jail. (NAN)

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