How Evans, Others Buy Houses With Proceeds Of Crime- Police

Inspector Idowu Aruna, a member of the Inspector general of police Intelligent response team on Friday told a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja that alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans and his gang members used most of the money they got from their criminal activities to buy houses.

Aruna, who was testifying before the court as a prosecution witness, said Evans used ransome money he collected from hus victims to purchased a houses at Fred Shoboyede Street, Magodo Estates, from where he was arrested.

The witness also said “the 2nd defendant (Uche Amadi) also brought a house located at Emmanuel Keshi Street, Magodo Estate with the proceeds of crime.

He further testified that Evans also has a twin building located at Fintex in Accra, Ghana and a landed property in Anambra State

He further claimed that the police were able to recover from the accused person, trucks used for his criminal activities.

During cross examination of the witness, the counsel to the sixth defendant, Emmanuel Ochai played a video in open court to prove that his client Victor Aduba was not part of the gang members that committed the crime.

In the video, Haruna, asked Evans how he mapped out strategies to kidnap his alleged victims.

Read Also: Evans Ready To Plea Guilty to Attempted Kidnapping Allegations- Lawyer

Evans while smiling, replied, “when you see someone that has money you will know.”

Evans, in the video, told the IPO that he knew that the individuals he and his alleged gang members kidnapped will pay the ransoms even if it involving selling their property to raise the funds.

Evans explained that through a contact, who was in prison, he was able to procure arms for his kidnap operations.

He said in the video that a pharmaceutical boss , Donatius Dunu, who had already paid a ransom of 223,000 Euros had not finished paying the ransom in full before escaping and alerting the police.

Evans said Aduba, who is a dismissed Army Officer, accompanies him during kidnap operations, noting that Aduba was involved in the botched kidnap attempt of Chief Vincent Obianodo, the Chairman of The Young Shall Grow Motors.

He, however, admitted in the video that Aduba did not participate in the kidnap of Dunu.

After the video was played, Ochai told Haruna that Evans never identified Aduba (sixth defendant ) as a participant in the kidnap of Dunu.

Responding, Idowu said, “According to information the victim (Dunu ) gave to police, kidnappers that came to abduct him were in army camouflage.

“This collaborated the information provided by the kidnap kingpin that most of the kidnapping he carried out were with the participation of the sixth defendant and that the sixth defendant did not participate in the kidnap of Dunu.”

After the cross examination, state prosecuting counsel, Adebayo Kareem informed the court that the prosecution will be closing it case.

Evans is standing trial alongside five accomplices; Uche Amadi, Okechukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Victor Chukwunonso Aduba and a woman, Ogechi Uchechukwu.

All six defendants were docked on a two count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

The six were arraigned on August 30, 2017 for the alleged kidnap of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, from whose family they allegedly collected the sum of 223,000 Euro (N100m) as ransom.

The trial judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, adjourned the case to January 31 for first defendant to open his case.

28th March 2024
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