Court orders Office of Public Defender to represent Evans

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court has directed the prosecution to notify the Office of Public Defender (OPD) to represent alleged kidnap kingpin, Chikwudumeme Onwiamadike (alias Evans).

Evans had been accused of playing pranks in a bid to stall his trial, which has suffered several adjournments due to absence of his counsel.

Oshodi gave the directive yesterday following counsel to the fifth defendant (Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu), A. A. Uzokwu’s allegation that Evans has been playing pranks in the bid to stall his trial, which has been adjourned severally due to absence of his counsel.

Also, the prosecution counsel, Gbadebo Oshoala accused Evans of playing games, which they do not understand.

Evans, who is standing trial before an Ikeja High Court with five other defendants: Nwanchukwu, Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba, again appeared in court without legal representation.

When the matter was called, Uzokwu told the court that (Evans was playing games, saying: “The same scenario played out before Justice Akinlade on Wednesday.”