Suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has employed a new counsel following the withdrawal of Olukoya Ogungbeje.
At the resumed proceedings on Friday at an Ikeja High Court, Noel Brown, announced his appearance as the counsel for Evans and the only female co-defendant, Ogechi Uchechukwu.
Evans and Uchechukwu are standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba for allegedly kidnapping Donatus Dunu, the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals.
About 232,000 Euros was allegedly collected as ransom from Dunu’s family by the gang.
Ogungbeje, Evans’ former counsel, had on June 13 announced that he was withdrawing from the case following threats to his life and for personal reasons.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that we have fought a good fight this far despite repeated and sustained threats to my life and to my defence lawyers,” he said in a statement.