Judge Warns Against Further Delay As Evans Changes Lawyer Again, Adjourns Case

Counsel to Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias “Evans“ has been warned that no further delays would be allowed in his ongoing trial.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, gave the warning after Mr Chinonye Obiagwu, Evans’ new defence counsel prayed for an adjournment so as to study the case file.

Newsmen Obiagwu is one of the 31 newly-shortlisted Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for induction on Sept. 24.
Justice Oshodi said, “I cannot come from home during vacation to be told that the matter will not go on for one excuse or the other.

“Counsel should desist from filing applications targeting at stalling trial, parties must get their witnesses ready, so that justice will be served within reasonable time frame.”

NaijaNews understands that on two different occasion, Evans had hired two defense counsel; Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje and Mr Noel Brown to represent him.

The changes had caused delays in the trial.

Previous court proceedings held on June 26, had been put on hold due to Brown taking over from Ogungbeje who was Evans’ first defense counsel at the onset of his trial.

Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.

They were arraigned on Aug 30, 2017 on two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, after they allegedly 223,000 Euro (N100m) as ransom from his family

Evans and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 26 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.