19th September, 2022
By Adenike Ruth
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday sentenced the convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans and his accomplice, Victor Aduba to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping a businessman Slyvanus Ahamonou and collecting N$420,000 as ransom from his family.
Evans had earlier in February, 2022 been sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ikeja High Court.
Evans and two others were found guilty of the kidnap of Mr Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Evans accomplice, Victor Aduba, an ex-soldier was also sentenced to 21 years imprisonment on a four-count charge bordering on kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
Delivering judgment, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the case of kidnap and possession of firearms against the convicts.
“It has been established by the prosecution prosecution witness (PW3, Ahamonou) complainant was kidnapped. The question is kidnapped him?
“Pw3 identified identified the first defendant in court while he was giving his testimony. He also recognized him at the police station nearly two months before the matter was taken to court.
“He testified that he was blindfolded before taken to the bus. He said ‘Immediately I saw him, I said this was the person that kidnapped me’ I also watched the video where the first defendant admitted to have kidnapped pw3.
“The first defendant sat in a comfortable chair and there was no sign that he made the statement under duress.
”He was not threatened or harassed. He signed the statement.
“He also said how he broke into banks and later graduated to kidnapping. I am satisfied that this court can convict the defendants through his confessional statement ,” Taiwo said.
The judge also held that there was no proof before the court that three of the Evans men were killed by the police.
She also convicted Aduba, based on his confessional statement and held that he should serve out his term without an option of fine.
“I have considered the allocutus of the defence counsel. This sentencing will serve as deterrent to others.
“The two are hereby sentenced to five year jail term for first count, second count, 21 years and third count, five years.
“The sentencing will however, run concurrently. They are hereby sentenced to 21 years imprisonment without an option of fine.,” Taiwo said.