Absence of Evans’ lawyer stalls arraignment

For the second time, the arraignment of the suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, otherwise known as Evans, on another two separate charges before an Igbosere High Court, Lagos was on Friday stalled due to absence of his lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje.

An attempt to arraign Evans and others before the court was rebuffed on November 13 by the defendants lawyers, on ground that the prosecution failed to do the needful by serving them the new charges and based on the defendants’ counsel’s submissions, the court adjourned till yesterday for their arraignment which also failed.

Evans was docked alongside Joseph Ikenna Emeka, Victor Aduba and Okapara Linus in one charge, while the suspected Kidnapper was docked alongside Joseph Ikenna Emeka Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba in the other.
When the matter came up yesterday, the prosecution led by Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Director of Public Prosecution ( DPP) informed the court of her readiness to proceed with the case but was restrained by the letter wrote by Evans’ lawyer Ogungbeje seeking for stood down of the matter till 12 pm, for the fact that he was before the Court of Appeal for another matter.

The court and other defendants’ counsel also acknowledged the letter.
Besides, Jude Igbanoi, lawyer to third defendant, Linus in the first charge also informed the court that he had just taken the brief and still need time to study proof of evidence and other things.

Based on the application and the letter of Evans’ lawyer, the prosecutor urged the court for short adjournment, she told the court that it was not certain whether Ogungbeje will be back by 12 pm he requested and even if he returned by that time, the application of third defendant’s counsel will still affect the proceeding.

Other defendants’ counsel did not opposed the prosecution’s application.
Meanwhile the court has adjourned the matter till January 22, 2018 for hearing.