Emefo Etudo, the attorney for Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, the alleged kidnap kingpin, informed a Lagos High Court in Ikeja that his client has turned away from his criminal past and has submitted a request for mercy to the Lagos State Government.
Etudo made this statement after Evans pleaded not guilty to an amended five-count charge that includes murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
In a session on Wednesday before Justice Adenike Coker, Etudo explained that despite the new charges and Evans’ plea, the defense had already filed an application for a plea bargain with the Lagos State Government through the Attorney-General’s office.
“Our focus in this matter is the plea bargain we’ve submitted to the state,” Etudo stated. “My client is genuinely remorseful. He was once a young man caught up in crime, but now he has repented. He is currently a 200-level student at the National Open University and achieved A1 grades in all his NECO subjects while incarcerated, thanks to a scholarship provided by the Federal Government. We ask the Lagos State government to allow him the chance to visit schools across the state to speak to young people about the dangers of crime.”
State Prosecutor Y.A. Sule acknowledged Evans’ plea bargain application, confirming that the relevant authorities would review it. He also clarified that the main matter at hand was the re-arraignment of Evans to restart the legal process.
“I can confirm that the first defendant (Evans) has indeed applied for a plea bargain, which we have received. We will be examining it. The second defendant has made a similar application,” Sule said.
Following these remarks, Justice Coker adjourned the case until March 20, 2025, for a potential trial.
Evans Claims Transformation
After the court session, Etudo spoke with journalists, emphasizing the significant changes in his client, attributing his transformation to the efforts of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and the support of the Federal Government.
“My client has undergone a remarkable reformation,” Etudo explained. “He has truly changed. The RCCG and the Federal Government, which provided him with the scholarship to further his education, have played crucial roles in his journey towards becoming a better person.”
