Lawyer Stalls Evans’ Second Arraignment

The arraignment of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans at an Igbosere High Court in Lagos Island on fresh charges, was last Monday temporarily stalled as his lawyer brought an application seeking to quash the charges.
The Lagos State Government had slammed the fresh charges on Evan, who was hauled up before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo over alleged attempt to kidnap the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors, Mr Vincent Obianodo.
Following the application, the judge fixed Evans’ arraignment for October 27.
Evans, who was arrested on June 10, was brought to court alongside other defendants.
Our correspondent reports that in the first charge, Evans was docked with one Victor Aduba on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
They were accused of conspiring and kidnapping one Sylvanus Hafia.
In the second charge, Evans was docked with three other defendants, Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze, and Udeme Upong.
They are facing a seven-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to commit murder, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms.
When the case came up on Friday, the courtroom was packed with a battery of reporters, lawyers and armed security men.
Counsel to Evans, Ogungbeje, told the court that the charge was only served on him this morning and objected to the arraignment of the defendants.
“We got a wind that our client will be arraigned this morning; so, we brought a motion challenging the competence of the charge based on the issue of jurisdiction,” Ogungbeje said.
The lawyer also said that the Prosecutor, Ms T. K. Shitta-Bey, the State Director for Public Prosecutions, had replied his motion on notice with a counter-affidavit.
He, therefore, told the court:”We intend to reply the counter-affidavit on points of law. We ask for a short adjournment to enable us reply on points of law.
“It is also a settled law that when an application challenging seeking to quash a charge is brought, such application should be taken first before any arraignment because when plea is taken, it means trial has started.”
The counsel to other defendants, Mr Emmanuel Ochai and Mr Ogedi Ogu, however, did not object to the arraignment of the defendants.
Ochai said: “We were served with the charge this morning, since we are seeing the charge for first time, we do not wish to join issues, we live it at the discretion of the court.”
The prosecutor, however, earlier told the court that the business of the day was arraignment of the defendants.
Shitta-Bey said the charge was served personally on the defendants on August 28, adding that it was in compliance with the provisions of Section 87 (1) Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Lagos State.
She said the application seeking to quash the charge should not be allowed.
“The application is not ripe for hearing, we were only served on Friday evening October 20, we have diligently replied by filing a counter-affidavit.
“It is my humble submission that the business of the day be allowed to go on.”
Shitta-Bey, afterwards conceded to the defendant counsel’s argument and said that the pending applications should be heard first.
The judge, consequently, adjourned the case until Oct. 27 for hearing pending of applications.