In a shocking twist, convicted kidnap kingpin Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, told the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Thursday that he has repented.
The notorious criminal, facing fresh charges of murder and conspiracy to kidnap, asked for mercy through his lawyer, Emefo Etudo.
Evans Pleads
Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, pleaded not guilty to the amended charges of murder of Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi in Festac Town, Lagos in 2013.
The prosecutor, Sule Yusuf, asked the court to remand the defendants and to confirm Evans’ application for plea bargain – a legal arrangement where a defendant negotiates a reduced sentence in exchange for cooperation or guilt.
Evans’ “New Life”
Etudo pleaded for mercy, describing Evans as a changed man.
He said Evans, the former kidnapper, is now a 200-level student of National Open University (NOUN) with straight A1 in his NECO exams, sponsored by Federal Government scholarship.
“My client was into crime but now wants to redeem himself. He wants to mentor youths on the dangers of crime,” Etudo said, asking the Lagos State Attorney-General’s office to approve his plea bargain.
Plea Bargain
Yusuf confirmed Evans’ application and said it would be sent to a state committee.
Justice Adenike Coker adjourned the case to March 20, 2025 to allow for plea negotiations.
Legal experts say plea bargain, though controversial, is allowed in Nigeria to fast-track justice and decongest the courts.
Evans’ Story
After the trial, Etudo spoke about Evans’ rehabilitation, giving credit to Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and federal programs for his transformation.
“Prison programs changed him. He’s a proof that reformation is possible,” he told journalists.
Evans’ case raises questions about Nigeria’s justice system: Can high-profile criminals really reform or should they be punished?
Opinions
Some Nigerians see Evans’ plea as a way to escape life imprisonment, others as a test of the system’s mercy.
His offer to mentor youths on the dangers of crime rings a bell in a country where unemployment and poverty push youths into crime.
As the 2025 trial date approaches, all eyes are on the Lagos courts.
Will Evans’ plea bargain set a precedence or will the victims’ families demand more accountability? For now, his story is a warning and an unexpected second chance.
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