Absence Of Defendants’ Lawyers Stall Evans Trial
The on- going trial of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chuckwueme Onwuamadike also known as Evans was on Friday stalled due inability of two of the defendants to come with their legal representation to the court.
When the matter came up for hearing, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, the second and fourth defendants informed the court that they intend to change their counsels.
Evans is standing trial alongside Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, who are also members of Evans syndicate, on charges bordering on kidnapping and conspiracy brought against them by the Lagos State government.
They had pleaded not guilty to all the count charge.
The first and third defendants counsel, Nuel Brown who is appearing for Evans and Ogechi Uchechukwu for the first time after Ogungbeje quit the matter announced his appearance.
While A.A Uzouow and Emmanuel Ochai announced appearance for the fifth and sixth defendants but there was no legal representation for the second and fourth defendants.
The court however asked the other two defendants of whereabouts their counsels; they responded that they intend to change counsel.
Evans counsel and the third defendant therefore prayed the court for an adjournment, to allow him go through the case file properly, so as to prepare for the trial.
He said, “My Lord, we took over this matter two weeks ago and we do not have the proper the proof of evidence. With due respect to the honorable court, the learned counsel who was handling the matter before did not do a proper handling over and we have written to the prosecution to avail of with copy of the proof of evidence.
“We have asked the prosecution for the file orally and we will still write formally to that effect.”
The prosecution led counsel, Titilayo Shitta-Bey in her response, prayed the court to grant a short adjournment so as to continue trial with the new counsel.
“In view of the fact that two of the defendants did not have a legal representation, we urge my Lord to grant us short adjournment date.
Justice Oshodi therefore asked the counsels to get themselves ready for the trial by applying for the necessary documents they will need for the trial and adjourned the matter till September 11, 2018 for continuation of trial.
Earlier, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, former counsel Evans had written to the court, seeking its protection against threat to his life.
According to the letter which was also served on the prosecution, Ogungbeje prayed the court to order the Commissioner of Police to assign police to him to protect him.
The trial judge however described Ogungbeje’s letter and application as an abuse to the court.
The prosecution counsel, Mrs Shitta-Bey also described the letter as a gross abuse of the honorable court.
