Convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has once again pleaded for a plea bargain, asserting that he has reformed and now serves as a teacher at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.
Appearing before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, Evans revealed that he had obtained a teaching diploma in economics from Yewa College of Education. As part of his plea bargain request, he offered to surrender all his assets, including 14 brand-new trucks, to the Lagos State Government, with proceeds intended for compensating his victims.
This marks the second time Evans has sought a plea bargain on compassionate grounds. His initial request, made on January 30, 2025, before Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, was unsuccessful.
Evans, who is serving multiple sentences—including life imprisonment and a 21-year jail term—has five criminal cases across different high courts in Lagos. His lawyer, Etudo Emefo, argued that the convict had undergone a transformation, earning a National Certificate in Education through a federal scholarship and dedicating himself to teaching fellow inmates.
During Thursday’s hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Alaba Kuku, confirmed that the Lagos State Government had received Evans’ application and established a committee to review it. Counsel for Evans’ co-defendants also indicated their clients’ interest in plea bargains, although one lawyer had yet to submit his application.
Justice Sonaike adjourned the case to April 17, 2025, for an update on the plea bargain request or to proceed with trial if the negotiations fail.
