Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, alongside an ex-soldier, Victor Aduba, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping one Sylvanus Hafia.
The choose, who handed down the decision with out an choice of positive on Monday, stated the sentence would run concurrently.
On rely one, she convicted and sentenced Evans and Aduba to 5 years imprisonment; for the second rely, the choose sentenced them to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping and 5 years for illegal possession of firearms.
Following the judgment, Nigerians together with Senior Advocates of Nigeria, had been reacting to the decision most well-liked towards the controversial kidnapper and his confederate.
Speaking with our correspondent, Prof Sam Erugo (SAN), stated the courtroom had the discretion on what sentence to go, including that within the case of Evans who had a number of costs pending earlier than completely different courts, for as lengthy they go the judgments, they might run concurrently.
Erugo added, “I feel 21 years is just about life imprisonment; folks arguing that the sentence ought to be stiffer, even a life sentence doesn’t imply that he might be there all his life. After a sure time, they could train some leniency and let the particular person go.
“21 years is still a very stiff penalty so even after spending the 21 years in prison, the other conviction of life sentence will still hold him there until if we have a lenient governor, maybe in one of the jail releases, they can let him go. 21 years is not a small sentence, it depends on what was before the court.”
Also reacting, Olu Daramola (SAN), nonetheless, stated the sentence made no distinction as a result of Evans was already serving a life sentence.
“If any person is sentenced to dying and in different counts he’s exonerated that he did nothing, the very fact nonetheless stays that he’s dealing with the hangman.
“He already had the stiffer punishment you can get after death in the earlier judgment; he may still be sentenced to death because even if he is sentenced to life imprisonment in all the cases, he can only serve one, because he just has one life,” he stated.
Describing the judgement as a optimistic growth, a lawyer, Isiaku Olagunju (SAN) stated the judgment would serve as deterrent to different criminals.
“I am glad that judgment has been made. However, there is no way I can criticise the judgement because I was not involved, and I have not read the judgment,” Olagunju added.
In his response, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), nonetheless, stated Evans nonetheless had the best to attraction the judgment at the next courtroom.
He stated, “More usually, most individuals have been tried on the pages of newspapers and social media earlier than the precise trial, thus I didn’t know the info, however I’m certain the choose would have thought of all of the obtainable info.
“In this case, he still has the right of appeal at the Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court. Sentencing is a question of law based on the available facts. If you have 21 years in jail, I think that is okay because sometimes criminals do repent. So, if you sentenced someone to life imprisonment, how will the society get the benefits of their repentance?”
PUNCH Metro had reported that Evans and Aduba have been accused of conspiring and kidnapping Sylvanus Hafia round 5.30pm on June 23, 2014, at Kara Street, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.
The duo, after kidnapping Hafia, allegedly demanded a ransom of $420,000 for her launch.
Evans alongside Aduba have been later arrested and had been dealing with 4 counts bordering on conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms, that are opposite to Sections 409, 269 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, and Section 9 (1) of theft and firearms (Special Provision Act) Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The Lagos State Government had on December 15, 2017, arraigned Evans and Aduba on 4 counts for kidnapping Hafia however the duo pleaded not responsible to the fees.
During the trial, the prosecution referred to as 4 witnesses together with the sufferer who testified that the convicts obtained a ransom of $420,000 paid by his brother and spouse to safe his launch.
The sufferer testified that he noticed Evans earlier than he was blindfolded, including that he was crushed up.
He testified that when he went to the police station they usually introduced out the primary defendant two months after the incident, he recognized Evans and he began begging him.
Justice Taiwo recognized two points for dedication, whether or not the sufferer was kidnapped and whether or not the defendants did it.
She discovered that the sufferer recognized the primary defendant through the kidnap and even on the police station the place Evans reportedly apologised to him.
The choose additionally established that there was no proof of bruises on Evans throughout his video interview with the police.
“There was no proof of proof earlier than the courtroom that Evans was tortured by Abba Kyari’s males. In the video interview, throughout trial inside trial, Evans informed one Sergent Ekundayo that he was a major faculty dropout and that he couldn’t write that the police officer ought to assist him write his assertion.
“I am satisfied that the prosecution was able to prove the case against the first defendant,” she held.
He additionally testified that the second defendant, Aduba, wore his military uniform and helped them pave the way in which at any time when they went for operations in order that they may freely go away the city.
The prosecution proved its case past affordable doubt that the primary defendant dedicated the offence of kidnapping; he’s hereby convicted and responsible as charged.
It was established that Aduba was a member of the gang which was led by Evans and that his job was to offer them protected passage whereas working.
The courtroom additionally thought of the confessional assertion of the second defendant, wherein the choose narrated from.
“I’m a military officer and I used to be launched to armed theft and kidnapping by one Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, our gang chief; we now have operated 5 occasions.
“I’ve participated 5 occasions and we used 4 AK47 rifles to kidnap at Amuwo Odofin. After one month, Evans gave me N1m as my very own share of the cash. I’ve made as much as N6.5m, within the 5 occasions I participated.
“I find the first and second defendants guilty as charged; I hereby convict them as charged,” the choose stated.
Earlier, Evans lawyer, Amobi Nzela, introduced his look, whereas Aseola Folarin, who appeared for Aduba, in his allocutus begged the courtroom to mood justice with mercy.
She stated Aduba was a primary time offender whose spouse gave beginning 4 months into his incarceration and had not seen the kid since he was born.
“He is a father of two and a young man that has served this country while in the army,” Folarin stated.
Recall that justice Hakeem Oshodi, had on February 25, 2022, convicted and sentenced Evans and two others, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu (*21*), to life imprisonment, on two counts of kidnapping the Managing Director, Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu, on February 14, 2017.
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