Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court has sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, a k a. Evans, and two others to life imprisonment for conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Duru.
Justice Oshodi found Evans and others guilty of a two-count charge of kidnapping the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu.
Others sentenced to life inprisonment alongside Evans are Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu.
The judge held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the charge against the three convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
He concluded that the evidence tendered before the court especially the video evidence collaborated the guilt of the convicts
Justice Oshodi however discharged and acquitted Ogechi Uchechukwu and two former soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
Handing down the sentence, Justice Oshodi noted the allocutors of the defence counsels, Olarewaju Ajanaku, H.O. Ajibola that the convicts are first time offenders, are remorseful and learnt their lesson.
But the judge disagreed with the defence lawyers that the convicts have shown remorse.
He held that they are unrepentant and they comfortably lied to the court.
The trial judge also noted the submission of thẹ former Director Public Prosecution (DPP), now Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ms Titi Shitta-Bey that in view of the gravity of the offence and for the fact that kidnapping has been on the rise, that maximun sentence be imposed to serve as deterrence to others.
Justice Oshodi held that the defendants have not shown any remorse going by the video shown ìn court.
“I believe a lesson must be taught to serve as deterrence to others.
“The Law is the Law. Section 411 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State (ACJL) 2015 must be applied to send the right message to the public that crime does not pay.
He further held: “Under the section 411 of the law on which the convicts were arraigned, the penalty for the offence of kidnapping is life imprisonment and the law does not give the court any discretion in the matter.
“I hereby sentenced the three convicts, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu to life inprisonment.
“This is the sentence of the court,” Justice Oshodi held.
