The convicted kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwumadike (also known as Evans) once again raised the justification for the plea deal, claiming that he was no longer a criminal, but a changer.
Evan is in his plea deal application for Sherifat Sonaike at Lagos High Court, Evan Education.
He also said he was ready to surrender all his property to the Lagos state government, including his 14 brand new trucks, which could transfer proceeds to victims of his criminal activities.
This is the second time that Evans has sought a plea deal on sympathetic grounds.
On January 30, 2025, he made the first request at Lagos High Court Justice Adenike Coker.
The convicted kidnappers have five criminal cases in various high courts in Lagos State. Two of the cases have resulted in convictions, one sentenced to life imprisonment and the other sentenced to 21 years in prison.
In Thursday’s lawsuit, his attorney Etudo Emefo told the court in Thursday’s lawsuit that the offender was regretful, during his time at Kirikiri’s Supreme Correctional Centre A transformation took place.
He begged the Lagos State Government for mercy and explained that the scholarships granted by the federal government to criminals would be useless without forgiveness.
He said Evans earned a national certificate education in economics and is now a teacher because of the scholarship.
He took NCE certificates and copies of project work as an appendix to the plea bargaining transaction application.
Prosecutor Alaba Kuku confirmed to the court that the state government had received the application and formed a committee to consider this.
The attorney representing Evans co-defendant also confirmed that although the third defendant attorney said he has not submitted an application to the state government, they are all applying for a plea deal.
Evans and his co-defendants Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Justice Lenas Opala Adedayo Akintoye.
Justice Sonaike has adjourned the case until April 17, 2025 for a report on the plea deal application or trial, if the plea deal is unsuccessful.
