Billionaire kidnapper, Evans, sues IGP

The father of Chukwudi Onuamadike, a notorious, high-profile kidnap kingpin, popularly called Evans on Wednesday called on the Inspector General of Police to release his son.

Evan’s father identified as Stephen Onuamadike was present at the premises of a Federal High Court in Lagos to personally depose to the suit against the IGP calling for the release of his son.

According to a Lagos based lawyer, Barrister Olukoya Ogungbeje who filed the suit on behalf of the family, there was no harm representing the alleged kidnap mastermind.

“I can confirm to you that Evan’s father personally came to court today to depose to the affidavit. The family contacted us and that is why we are representing them,” he said.

Ogungbeje further added that the suit borders on the infringement of the constitutional human rights of his client.

The Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command, were joined as co-respondents in the suit.

The suspected kidnapper is seeking for a court’s order directing the respondents to immediately charge him to court if there is any case against him in accordance with Sections 35 (1) (c) (3) (4) (5) (a) (b) and 36 of the Constitution. 

He is on the alternative seeking for an order compelling the respondents to immediately release him unconditionally in the absence of any offence that will warrant his being charged to court. 

In the suit marked, FHC/L/CS/1012/2017, Evans is contending that his continued detention by the respondents since June 10, 2017, without being charged to court or released on bail is an infringement on his fundamental human rights.

He argued that the respondents ought to have charged him to court in accordance with the provisions of Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

It was further argued that the alleged offence committed by the applicant (Evans) are correspondingly intertwined with the constitutional safeguards as provided under Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

In a 27-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Evan’s father, Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court’s order by the respondents.

Evans’ father further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents have continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing and trial before a court of law.

The deponent also averred that since his son’s arrest, all his family members have been denied access to him while media practitioners have been granted unfettered access to him.

The matter has not been assigned to any judge and no date has been fixed for the hearing.