Lukman Olabiyi

 A police Inspector, Idowu Haruna  and Prosecution Witness in the ongoing trial of  suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwuemeka Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, have given an account of how the Defendant sought God’s forgiveness while in their custody.

According to him, the only thing Evans repeatedly said under interrogation was :”May God forgive me  for  my sins because I have kidnapped and I have killed.”

The witness revealed this to Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court, at Igbosere, while testifying in the trial within trial to test the admissibility of Evans’ confessional statement to the police.

Haruna  stated that on the day he recorded Evans statement, he cautioned him and asked him if he had a lawyer that could stand  for him before he would made  statement  but Evans responded that he has none  and ready to narrate his exploit in the crime world  to the police.

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“Evans said that he doesn’t have any lawyer and that he doesn’t go near the lawyer because of what he does,” Haruna added.

The witness said that Evans in his statement to the police said that he had four AK47, rifle, two pistol and sharkles (chain), which he uses on his victim’s with a Lexus Jeep he usually use to kidnap and take his victims to their hideout at 21, Prophet Asaje Close, Igando, Lagos.

Haruna, who is in the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response team, is the seventh Prosecution Witness, in the second charge, which Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba were co-defendants of Evans.

The witness also said that Evans revealed  to the police that he was the only one that do negotiates for ransom and also arrange how to pick the ransom, and does not involve the other members of the gang but did gave them small share of the ransom.

At the resumed hearing of the trial, on Saturday, the counsel to the first and third defendants Mr. Noel Brown had told the court that he could not go on with the trial, as the lead counsel Mr. Chino Ogbiagwu SAN, was with the case file and asked for adjournment.

But Justice Adedayo Akintoye, insisted that the trial must go on, as he is part of the defense team that has been coming to court since the commencement of the trial.

Evans is facing two separate charges bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder, before Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

In the first charge, Evans is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Ugochukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

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In the second charge, he is standing trial alongside Joseph Emeka, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

The witness added that the first defendant told the police that he usually use the fourth defendant Victor Aduba a serving Army Officer as a disguise, during operation to deceive the police for free passages of the road to their criminal hideout.

According to Haruna, Evans,told the police that he is the leader of the gang and that he had started since 1997, adding that he and others are involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and Bank robbery from different parts of the country, as they have no other job.

Haruna who was being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Titilayo Shitta-Bey, told the court that when Evans was arrested, he gave the police information that led to the arrest of the other Defendants.

He also said that the first Defendant informed the police that the third Defendant, Linus Okpara, whom he met at the time he was selling drugs, was stationed to look out for victims and then gave him (Evans) information before they were kidnapped.

The witness also narrated that Evans told the police that the second Defendant, Joseph Emeka, when he followed him for the operation, stole the ring of Chief James Uduji and sold it for N60,000.

Haruna said that Evans volunteered his statement and it was taken around 10:00am, in a very conducive environment.

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He said that he was not tortured, as it is against the ethics of the Nigeria Police Force and the intelligent response team.

The Defendants had through their counsel Mr Noel Brown, Ogedi Ogu and Emmanuel Ochai, informed the court that their statements were not made voluntarily, but  were  made under duress and torture.

But the Inspector in his testimony said that the Defendants’ statements were taken at Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS Ikeja Lagos, and none of them was tortured to make their statements.

He further stated that the fourth defendant in his statement said he usually puts on his Army Camouflage fez cap to deceive the police on the road to allow them pass.

However, Mr. Brown urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him prepare for cross examination.

Consequently, the Judge adjourned till November 16, for continuation of trial.