‘I am no longer a criminal, I now teach in prison’ – Evans tells Court

Convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, has informed the Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square that he is willing to surrender all his assets as part of a plea bargain agreement if the court considers his application on compassionate grounds.

In his plea, Evans stated that he has reformed since his incarceration and now serves as a teacher at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre after earning a teaching diploma in economics from Yewa College of Education. He declared that he is no longer involved in criminal activities.

As part of the proposed plea bargain, Evans offered to forfeit 14 brand-new trucks to the Lagos State Government for sale, with the proceeds directed to compensate his victims.

Represented by his lawyer, Mr. Etudo Emefo, Evans expressed remorse for his past crimes and claimed to have undergone a transformation while in Kirikiri Maximum Prison. He also disclosed that he was awarded a Federal Government scholarship while in prison, allowing him to further his education.

Evans appealed to the Lagos State Government for mercy, arguing that without their forgiveness, his scholarship would be meaningless, and he would be unable to utilize the skills he acquired during incarceration. He emphasized that this would lead to a waste of government resources invested in his rehabilitation.

Court documents revealed that the Federal Government provided Evans and other inmates with opportunities to further their education. Taking advantage of the initiative, Evans obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and is currently teaching within the prison. Copies of his NCE certificate and project work were submitted as evidence.

Additionally, he was admitted to the National Open University of Nigeria under the Federal Government’s scholarship scheme and is currently in his second year studying Political Science. His admission letter and student ID card were presented to the court as part of the plea.

Evans also completed vocational training in welding and metal fabrication through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, successfully passing all required tests. A copy of his test results was included in the court documents.

During the court session, which was scheduled for trial, the prosecuting counsel, Alaba Kuku, informed Justice Sherifat Sonaike that the defendants had shown interest in plea bargains with the Lagos State Government. He acknowledged receiving an advance copy of Evans’ application, which is currently under government review.