Justice Adenike Coker of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned the re-arraignment of convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (also known as Evans) and others to 1st February, 2024.
This was after tne re-arraignment of Evans earlier fixed for Wednesday 17th January suffered a setback due to the absence of two other co-defendants.
The convict and three others including Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze and Udeme Upong are standing trial before Justice Adenike Coker, of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.
While Evans and Emeka (first and second defendants) were present in court, Arinze and Upong (third and fourth defendants) were absent.
Justice Coker sought the whereabouts of the other two defendants and why they failed to appear before the court.
She urged the prosecution to tidy its house and ensure that the counsel be served proof of evidence before the next adjourned date.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter till 1st February 2024 for re-arraignment.
The Lagos State prosecutor, Ms Titi Adeegbe had told the court that the third and fourth defendants were absent and that she had no information as to their whereabouts.
Earlier, the defence counsel, representing Evans, Ms Mary Dibiaeze, reminded the court that the third defendant had died, while the fourth defendant was discharged from the case.
The counsel to the second defendant, Mr Nelson Onyejaka informed the court that they had not been served proof of evidence by the prosecution.
Recall that Evans had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Hakeem Oshodi sometime in February 2022.
Evans and his co-defendants were later sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by retired Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo prior to her retirement.
