Evans, who was previously convicted for kidnapping, is now making a plea bargain claim that he is now working as a teacher.

 

Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, who was convicted of kidnapping, is again seeking a plea bargain, claiming that he is no longer a criminal but a transformed person.

 

In his plea bargain application which he put before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, Evan said that he is now a teacher at the correctional centre, in Kirikiri after obtaining a teaching diploma certificate in economics from the Yewa College of Education.

 

He also said that he was prepared to surrender all his property to the Lagos State Government including his 14 brand new trucks which could be sold with the proceeds transferred to the victims of his criminal activities.

 

Evans has approached the court twice to request a plea bargain on compassionate grounds.

 

His initial request was made before Justice Adenike Coker of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja on January 30, 2025.

 

Five criminal cases were filed against the convicted kidnapper in various high courts in Lagos State. There have been two convictions in these cases, one with a life sentence and another with a 21-year prison term.

 

At the proceedings on Thursday before Justice Sherifat Sonaike, his lawyer, Etudo Emefo, told the court that the convict was remorseful and had undergone a transformation during his time at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.

 

He appealed to the Lagos State Government for mercy, stating that without their forgiveness, the Federal Government's scholarship given to the convict would be worthless.

 

He said that Evans, as a result of the scholarship, had earned a National Certificate in Economics and is currently a teacher.

 

As appendices to the plea bargain application, he submitted copies of the NCE certificate and project work before the court.

 

According to Alaba kuku, the prosecuting counsel, the state government had received the application and established a committee to evaluate it, as confirmed by him to the court.

 

Counsel representing Evans co-defendants also confirmed that they were all applying for a plea bargain even though the third defendant counsel said he was yet to submit his application to the state government.

 

Evans and his co-defendants, Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Linus Opara, are standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and attempted murder before Justice Sonaike, who began the case afresh in January 2023, following the retirement of Justice Adedayo Akintoye.

 

The case has been postponed by Justice Sonaike until April 17, 2025, for a report on the plea bargain application or a trial if the plea bargain fails.