Evans Makes Case For Plea Bargain, Claims He’s Now A Teacher

The prisoner stated in his plea bargain application, which he submitted to Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, that he has earned a teaching diploma in economics from the Yewa College of Education and is currently employed as a teacher at the correctional facility in Kirikiri.

He added that he was willing to turn over all of his belongings, including his fourteen brand-new trucks, to the Lagos State Government, with the money raised going to the victims of his illegal actions.

This is the second time Evans has petitioned the court for a compassionate plea deal.

He submitted his first request to Lagos High Court, Ikeja, Judge Adenike Coker, on January 30, 2025.

Five criminal cases against the convicted kidnapper were filed in different Lagos State high courts. In two of these cases, convictions have already been obtained; one contains a life sentence, while the other carries a 21-year jail sentence.

His attorney, Etudo Emefo, said the court during Thursday's proceedings before Justice Sherifat Sonaike that the prisoner was repentant and had changed while incarcerated at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Center.

He begged the Lagos State Government for forgiveness, stating that the Federal Government's scholarship to the convicted individual would be worthless without it.

According to him, Evans is now a teacher after receiving the scholarship and earning a National Certificate Education in Economics.

As attachments to the plea bargain application, copies of the project work and NCE certificate were also presented to the court.

The state government received the application and established a committee to review it, the prosecuting attorney, Alaba Kuku, informed the court.

Even though the third defendant's attorney said he had not yet submitted his application to the state government, the attorneys for Evans' co-defendants also stated that they were all seeking a plea deal.

Following Justice Adedayo Akintoye's retirement in January 2023, Evans and his co-defendants Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba, and Linus Opara are on trial before Justice Sonaike on a five-count accusation that borders on conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder.

In order to obtain a report on the plea bargain application or, in the event that the plea bargain fails, a trial, Justice Sonaike has postponed the case until April 17, 2025.