Evans had earlier pleaded guilty to the two-count charge at his arraignment on August 30, 2017. The court reconvened at 11.45am today and the amended charges have been read to all six defendants and they all pleaded “not guilty”.
The Prosecution has indicated their readiness to proceed with the trial. They have three witnesses in court to testify.
The suspect was arraigned alongside five others; Uche Amadi, Ogechi Izechuwku, Okechukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwunonso.
Following the plea of all six defendants, the Attorney General of Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem, who led the prosecution, asked for a trial date and for all defendants to be remanded in prison custody.
With this, the Lagos State Government has amended the charges it filed against Evans and the five others. The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP Lagos State, Titilayo Shitta-Bey told Justice Hakeem Oshodi that the amendment relates only to the punishment section for the second charge.
The DPP also submitted that there is no material change in the nature of the offence which still remains conspiracy and the kidnap of one Dunu Donatus.
