The re-arraignment of kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwamadike, aka Evans, on Thursday suffered a setback due to the absence of two other co-defendants.

Evans and three others, Joseph Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze and Udeme Upong, were brought before Justice Adenike Coker of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court.

While Evans and Mr Emeka (first and second defendants) were present in court, Mr Arinze and Upong (third and fourth defendants) were absent.

Ms Coker asked the prosecution the whereabouts of the other two defendants and why they failed to appear before the court.

She urged the prosecution to tidy its house and ensure that the counsels be served proof of evidence and adjourned the matter until February 1 for arraignment.

The Lagos prosecutor, Titi Adeegbe, told the court that the third and fourth defendants were absent and that she had no information about their current status.

The defence counsel, representing Evans, Mary Dibiaeze, reminded the court that the third defendant had died while the fourth defendant was discharged from the case.

The counsel to the second defendant, Nelson Onyejaka, informed the court that the prosecution had not served them with proof of evidence.

Evans had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Hakeem Oshodi sometime in February 2022.

Evans and his co-defendants were later sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by retired Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo before her retirement. 

(NAN)