Efforts by counsel to Billionaire
kidnapper, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike also known as Evans, Olukoya Ogungbeje to
seek an adjournment of his client’s matter at the Lagos High Court was on
Thursday frustrated by the state government.
Ogungbeje filed for an
adjournment after the Lagos State Government filed for an amended charge.
Counsel to the once notorious
kidnap kingpin prayed the justice Hakeem Oshodi-led court to grant the
adjournment to allow him study the amended charges with his client.
Ogungbeje said, “My Lord on
behalf of the first and second defendants, the amended charge was served on us
this morning.
“We had earlier filed an
application on behalf of the first defendant and the prosecution just served us
their counter affidavit this morning in court.
“If my lord would oblige us a
date to confer with the first and second defendant about the amended charge.
Responding to Ogungbeje’s prayer,
the lead prosecutor, Titi Shita-Bey, opposed the application.
She said, “We’re opposing their
application for adjournment, we pray that this court allow the charge to be
read to the defendants and they should take their plea.
“Section 155(1) of the
Administration of Criminal Justice Law does not allow any formal application to
amend charges, all the court need to do is to take fresh plea from the
defendants.
“The application for adjournment
was calculated to delay this matter by the defense counsels; the particulars of
the offence did not change just the count two which the law under which was
stated was changed and the punishment.”
After listening to the arguments,
Justice Oshodi, ordered Ogungbeje to confer with his clients in the court so
that Evans and the other defendants could take their plea.
Dissatisfied by the ruling of the
judge, Ogungbeje said, “The atmosphere and the environment is not conducive to
confer with my client.
“The prosecution should be
diligent enough to have served us the amended charge before today.
Justice Oshodi stood the matter down
for 45 minutes to allow Ogungbeje confer with his clients.
Details later…
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