Suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, has made fresh allegations against the Nigeria Police Force claiming the latter allegedly tortured him some documents against his consent.
Evans, while answering questions under cross-examination by the Lagos State government’s prosecutor, Mr Yusuf Sule on Friday, also denied kidnapping a businessman, Sylvanus Ahamonu, and collecting a $420,000 ransom from his family.
Evans is standing trial at the Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja alongside an ex-soldier, Victor Aduba, on a four-count charge of kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
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“I do not know Slyvanus Ahamonu, I only met him in the IG’s (Inspector-General of Police) Guest House at Falomo,” the defendant stated. “One day at the IG Guest House, the police brought some documents and asked me to sign, I asked what the documents are for, but they didn’t answer me.
“They said that if I don’t cooperate with them, they will kill me. When I refused, Inspector Philip asked them to take me to the back of the guest house. When I got there, they were pressing cigarette butts on my body.
“They killed about six persons in my presence, and I eventually signed the document; I was not allowed to read it. I think it is the document that was used to bring me to court.
“I do not know anything about the allegations before this court. I don’t know who Ahamonu is. I only met him at the IG’s guest house, I had not had any prior contact with him. Ahamonu and Idowu Haruna (the Investigating Police Officer) could have conspired.
“My pictures are everywhere, all over the world. Before my picture was everywhere, people knew who I was. I had a haulage and logistics business with over 30 staff and drivers in Amuwo-Odofin.”
Testifying against the police though he could not provide medical documents in proof of his claim to the court, the suspect explained that while he was incarcerated, he had filed a fundamental human rights suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos against the police over the alleged torture.
After listening to Evans’ testimony, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case till March 11 for the continuation of trial.
