….As Defendant’s Counsel Says He Has Repented
Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike also known as Evans has settled for plea bargain having pleaded guilty to his crimes.
Evans is standing trial before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja
His counsel, Emefo Etudo, disclosed this after the re-arraignment of his client by the state government on a five-count charge.
The charge against the defendant centered on murder, attempt to murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping,but pleaded guilty to charge.
After the re-arraignment of the defendant, his counsel Etudo, informed the court that his client has repented from his criminal ways and has applied to the state government for mercy.
Etufo told the court presided over by Justice Adenike Coker, that despite the amended charge and the plea of his client, he has applied to the state government through the Attorney-General’s office for plea bargain.
He said: “ Our focus in this matter is the plea bargain which we have submitted to the state government. My client is now a repentant person. He was a young man consumed by crime, but he is now remorseful. Presently he is a 200 level student of National Open University. In fact, he made A1 in all his papers in NECO while in prison. All these were made possible through a scholarship given to him by the Federal Government.
“My lord, we have asked the Lagos State government to give him the oppurtunuty to go round schools in the state to talk to youths about the dangers of crime.”
State Prosecutor, Y.A Sule, confirmed Evans’ application for plea bargain saying that the appropriate would consider it.
He told the court that the business of the day was for the re-arraignment of the defendant to enable the matter start denovo.
He said: “My lord, I can confirm that the 1st defendant ( Evans), has indeed applied l for plea bargain and it was served on us. We shall be examining it. The second defendant has also made similar application.
The case is however adjourned to March 20 by Justice Coker for possible trial.