The re-arraignment of the convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, before Justice Adenike Coker of a Lagos High Court, in Ikeja, was on Thursday stalled due to the absence of his counsel.
When the case was called, he was not represented by any lawyer.
Justice Coker then asked Evans the whereabouts of his lawyer and why he had not been informed of the day’s proceedings.
“I’m not sure if my lawyer is coming,” Evans replied.
The Lagos State Government had scheduled Thursday for Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka’s re-arraignment before the court.
However, the absence of Evans’s lawyer halted the process.
The judge also questioned the counsel for the second defendant, Nelson Onyejaka, on why he failed to notify Evans’s lawyer of the court session.
“My Lord, I tried his number, but it wasn’t connecting. Even this morning, I attempted to reach him, but he doesn’t reside in Lagos,” Onyejaka explained.
The state prosecutor, Yusuf Sule, informed the court that the day’s proceedings were meant for arraignment but could not continue due to the first defendant’s counsel’s absence.
Sule urged the court to give a new date and asked the court to make an order compelling Evans’s lawyer to appear at the next hearing.
“This has been a pattern from the start of this case. The first defendant has been responsible for the delays.
“It’s high time he hired a lawyer based in Lagos or briefed another counsel to represent him so the case can proceed,” Sule said.
The judge adjourned the case to January 30, 2025, for re-arraignment and directed Evans to ensure his lawyer was present.
She also ordered the prosecution to arrange for the Office of the Public Defender to be available on the adjourned date.
“Should the first defendant’s counsel fail to appear, the OPD will represent him so that the arraignment can proceed without further delay,” Justice Coker said.
