LAGOS: Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has been re-arraigned by the Lagos State Government on fresh charges of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were brought before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court on a five-count amended charge linked to the deaths of two police officers.
According to the prosecution, the notorious kidnap kingpin and his accomplice allegedly murdered two policemen, Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi, on August 27, 2013, around 10 p.m. at Festac Town, Lagos.
The offences are said to contravene Section 221 of the Lagos Criminal Law, 2011, which prescribes the death penalty for murder.
At the court session, State Prosecutor A. O. Azeez confirmed the transfer of the case from Justice Adenike Coker and requested a fresh arraignment, citing procedural requirements. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Justice Ogala adjourned the matter to November 19, 2025, for hearing and the issuance of witness summons.
Evans, who gained infamy as one of Nigeria’s most feared billionaire kidnappers, is already serving sentences from previous convictions in separate kidnapping cases. He was arrested in June 2017 after a nationwide manhunt that exposed his network of kidnappings-for-ransom, multimillion-naira operations, and international connections.
Despite his convictions, Evans has repeatedly sought plea bargains, claiming that he has reformed and now serves as a teacher to other inmates while in prison. However, prosecutors and victims’ families have consistently rejected his claims, insisting that he must face the full weight of justice.
The new murder charge against Evans has reignited public debate about Nigeria’s handling of high-profile crime cases, with many urging the judiciary to ensure that the case is swiftly and transparently prosecuted.
When the trial resumes in November, the prosecution is expected to call key witnesses, including officers involved in the investigation, as the state seeks justice for the two slain policemen.
