A High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State on Friday sentenced Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, and two others to life imprisonment.
Evans, who is facing four counts of kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms since his arrest in 2017, was found guilty of kidnapping Mr Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
In a three-hour judgment, Justice Hakeem Oshodi found the first accused and his accomplices, Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the other co-defendants, Ogechi Uchechukw and two former soldiers, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for lack of sufficient evidence against them.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution succeeded in proving the charges against the three convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
He revealed that video evidence showing the first accused interrogation didn’t show him under duress as he had earlier claimed.
“He was seen freely laughing and willingly answered questions. A close look at his body showed no sign of torture. He did not look unkempt. He was seen laughing even when he was told that he must be a rich kidnapper.”
“He showed no remorse in the dock and tried to lie his way out of the crimes despite the video evidence,” he added.