COURT- NOT SHOWING MERCY TO EVANS THE KIDNAPPER

Justice Oshodi gave the warning following a 30-minute  verbal exchange he had with  Mr Chinonye Obiagwu,  Evans’ new defence counsel who had prayed

for an adjournment to study the case file. Newsmen report that 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.” NAN reported that Evans had on various occasions hired two defence counsel; Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje and Mr Noel Brown to represent him. The changes in defence counsel 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 defence counsel at the onset of his trial. Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba. The six accused 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, from whose family they allegedly collected 223,000 Euro (N100m) as ransom. Evans and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.