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Kidnap

Gunmen Release Expatriate Contractors Kidnapped in Calabar

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The 7 expatriate contractors, including three Australians and a South African, have been released unharmed 4 days after they were kidnapped by gunmen in Calabar, Cross River State, Reuters reports
The Cross River State Security Adviser SSA, Mr. Jude Ngaji, who confirmed the report told CrossRiverWatch that the expatriates were released early today (Sunday) morning.
Ngaji debunked claims that ransom was paid for their release. He also disclosed that all the foreigners were released unhurt without any injury while the two Nigerians sustained minor injuries possibly from torture by the kidnappers.
“I can confirm to you that all the kidnapped persons have been released this morning. All the white guys were released unhurt without any issues, but the two black guys, the Nigerians sustained some minor injuries possibly from torture.”
When questioned whether ransom was paid, the SSA said “Government does not pay ransom. I don’t know anything about any ransom. If any was paid, I am not aware and it was not paid by this government or any of the security agencies. I only know that the various security agencies collaborated and did their work very well and commendably to secure the release of the hostages.”
Mr. Ngaji who could not say whether any of the kidnappers were arrested however promised that none of them will go unpunished.
“In the course of the work to release the victims, the security agents gathered a lot of information about the kidnappers and their activities and I want to assure the public that none of them will go unpunished. I don’t want to speak too much on that.” He said.
Cross River State Commissioner Jimoh Ozi-Obeh said they were released “unhurt” but gave no further details.
However, a top security source told CrossRiverWatch that an undisclosed amount of money was paid to the kidnappers to free the victims. The security agencies are on  the trail of the kidnappers to make sure they are arrested eventually and brought to book.
Meanwhile there are indications that most of the foreigners who work for the Lafarge Cement factory in Mfamosing, Akamkpa LGA have deserted their duty posts because of the development.
Source: Reuters/CrossRiverWatch
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Evans

Evans Files Fresh Suit Against Police, Seeks Payment Of N300m In Damages

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Suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (a.k.a. Evans), has again dragged the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a Federal High Court in Lagos over his alleged illegal detention.

In the new suit filed yesterday, Evans is claiming N300 million as general and exemplary damages against the police for alleged illegal detention and unconstitutional media trial.

Joined as respondents in his new originating motion are the Nigeria Police Force, the commissioner of Police, Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command.

Evans had, on June 28 filed an ex parte application with reference number FHC/L/CS/1012/2017, before the same court, seeking an order directing the respondents to charge him to court.

He had also in the alternative, sought an order directing the respondents to release him unconditionally where no charge is preferred against him.

In an affidavit deposed to by his father, Mr Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court order by the respondents.

Onwuamadike further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents have continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing before a court of law.

Evans contended that his continued detention by the respondents since June 10, without a charge, or release on bail, is an infringement on his fundamental rights.

In his new suit also marked FHC/L/CS/1012/ 2017 and with the same persons as respondents, the applicant is seeking a declaration that his continued detention since June 10 without arraignment, violates his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

He is also seeking a declaration that his parade on June 11 before journalists in Lagos, at the Lagos Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, without any court order, is unconstitutional and illegal.

He is consequently, seeking an order, compelling the respondents to immediately arraign him before a law court, or release him from custody forthwith.

‘Evans’’ is also seeking an order, compelling the respondents to jointly and severally, pay him the sum of N300 million as exemplary damages for illegal detention and alleged harm caused by the alleged  media trial.

The suspect is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from further arresting, detaining, harassing, investigating or inviting him in relation to the facts of his case.

He is also seeking further orders as the court may deem fit, to make in the circumstances.

No date has been fixed for hearing in his latest suit.

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Evans

2006 Bank Robbery: How My Mum Got Me Released From Police Custody — Evans, (Pix Shows Bullet Wound Sustained During Shootout)

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Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, yesterday recanted his story that the bullet wound on his shoulder was from a drug war in South Africa.

The suspect withdrew his earlier narrative after investigators presented him with allegations made against him by a retired police officer in a national daily.

Evans told his interrogators that he got the wound from a gang member during a disagreement in the sharing formula of the heist from a bank raid in 2006.

The suspect also admitted he was arrested by the police after the shootout among his robbery gang members.

He added that his mother, with the help of a policewoman, got him released from police custody 11 years ago.

The retired officer was once the former officer in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command.

According the policeman, in 2006, Evans was arrested for bank robbery, but his release was later facilitated by a female superintendent of police.

Asked why he didn’t prosecute Evans back then, the officer retorted that there was a female Superintendent of Police (SP), identified simply as Tina, at the Band Section of the Police College, Lagos, who insisted that the police should drop the case and that Evans was her brother.

“But when she was unable to achieve her aim, she travelled to Imo State. Not long after, we got a message from the Imo State Police Command that they had been searching for Evans and asked us to transfer the case to them so they could continue from where we stopped. Since that time, we did not hear anything. We heard he was later released there,” he was quoted as saying.

The police officer explained that in 2006, robbers attacked a commercial bank in Lagos and went to Iganmu, to share the money.

One of those later arrested was Evans. He was shot by one of his gang members. He was arrested because he couldn’t run. He had lost so much blood.

The senior officer said that back then, Evans was known as Chukwudi.

According to the retiree, there was also a time that Evans’ gang robbed three banks at Alaba International Market in 2005.

He urged the leader of the investigators, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, not to rush Evans’ investigation.

According to him, Evans has links in South Africa, Ghana and other places.

“Bank robbery and hijacking of bullion vans are easy for him and his gang members,” he was quoted as saying.

He alleged that Evans had a penchant for shooting and killing any member he suspected.

One of the police investigators, who interviewed Evans following the newspaper’s report, said: “The bullet wounds are from disagreement over sharing of loot after bank robbery in Lagos in 2006. Evans and his gang members shot one another. Many gang members died, while Evans survived with bullet wounds. Evans has confessed to the bank robbery, shooting and bullet wounds.

“Evans had been lying about how he got that bullet wound for long. But when we showed the newspaper report, he caved in and confessed that the report was true. He said they robbed banks and started shooting one another over sharing of the money. He said that it was his mother, working through the policewoman, who got him out of police custody.”

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Kidnap

Nigerians are angry with the family of Evans the kidnapper for pleading for mercy

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In an interview with Vanguard, wife of Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, aka Evans, Uchenna, appealed to Nigerians to forgive her husband and her family for all the atrocities he committed. (Read Here).

Nigerians are however not having it. Most on social media are voicing out their disgust at the effrontery of the family to even beg for mercy and others who started a FreeEvans hashtag

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Please have mercy on my husband and our family- Billionaire Kidnapper, Evan’s wife, Uchenna begs Nigerians

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Wife of Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, aka Evans, Uchenna, has appealed to Nigerians to forgive her husband and her family for all the atrocities he committed. In an interview with Vanguard, Uchenna said she was not aware that he was into crime. She said thought he was into haulage, buying engine and spare parts for trucks and imports exhaust pipes.

She has asked that all his properties be sold and the money returned to all his victims.

“My name is Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike, the wife of the Chikwudubem Onwuamadike who you call Evans. I am 31 years old. I got married to Evans at the age of 17 at Oraifite, Anambra state in 2004. He met me while I was coming back from lesson as a student of All Saints Secondary School, Oraifite and I was in class 6 going to take my West African Examination. 

After we met, I agreed to go with him because of my poor background. He told me his father married three wives when he was six years old and threw his mother out of his house. He said that one of the wives influenced his father to drive them out of his house also and they were forced to stay with outsiders. Evans was taken to his grandmother who trained him. 

He told me his father accused the mother of being adulterous before driving her out of his house. Our marriage is blessed with five children. Our first issue is 12 years plus and her name us Udochukwu. After we got married, he said I should stay with his mother in his village at Akanmiri, Umudim, Nnewi to teach me how to be a good housewife. I was there for three years before he took me to Lagos. 

We were living at Satellite town in 2006 and after one year, he relocated us back to the village because he could not pay house rent. While in the village, he normally came to see us. We spent three years in the village and relocated to Ghana. On our way to Ghana, we passed through Lagos and stayed at Benny Hotels in Festac where we spent two days before travelling to Ghana. He spent a month with us in Ghana before coming back to Lagos. 

I was pregnant with our fourth child in 2010 when he left for Nigeria to come back in two months time. After I gave birth, he came back four months later and was able to clear the accumulated bills we kept for him because I borrowed money from friends to clear hospital bill. When he came back, he complained bitterly that things were rough for him in Nigeria and that customs seized his goods. I was not aware that he was into kidnapping and all the criminal acts he is being associated with now. 

All I know about his business is that he was into haulage, buying engine and spare parts for trucks and imports exhaust pipes. That was what he told me. The reason he kept me in Ghana was because he said our children should get quality education. I have spent six years here and after I stopped hearing from him, I called and complained bitterly but he said I should stay for some time. I then called his friend, Okechukwu, who now lives in China. He told me that he has not been seeing him and that he spends most of his time with a girlfriend in Festac. When I called him to complain, he was angry with me and warned that I should stop listening to gossip. He said that If I should return, I should go to his younger brother’s house in Lagos until he is ready to get accommodation for us. 

The brother was formally living in Lagos but he is in Brazil now. So, when it was impossible to pay my children’s school fees, I packed my bags and baggage and came back to Lagos with our children. We stayed at his brother’s house at Agric, close to Trade Fair until he took us to a house in Magodo where he claimed he owed rent pending the completion of his own house there. 

We have spent just one year in that house in Magodo. I have no idea of the type of business he was into but he told me that his friends overseas used to buy phones and jewelries for him. 

While in Lagos, i was idle and I pressured him to find something for me to do and he promised to do that. Several times, I asked him to take me to his office but he said they move from place to place to offload goods in haulage business and share profits. I can’t remember having any visitor in our house. It is only the agent called Sunny that helped us to pack into our house that I know. At times, artisans come to do one repair or the other, that’s all. I don’t know any of his friends and if we were invited to parties, he would not allow us to attend. He told me that he has no friends and that he hates associating with people. 

I was always indoors because he warned me to beware of Lagos women that they are wayward. I was staying indoors and it was only when I was sick that he took me to a hospital in Ikeja. I always have BP and it makes weak. 

We went back to Ghana on the 6th of this month and he promised to join us in no distant time. On the 9th, I called him to know when he would be coming and even the youngest of our children was crying, begging him to come as soon as possible and he promised to come. In the afternoon, I called but he was not picking. I called again, there was noise in the background and the line was switched off. I then called the driver that took us to the motor pack when we were going to Ghana and he told me that there was a problem, that police came and arrested Oga and that they came with a fair complexioned lady. When I heard all the allegations against him, I called his brother in Ghana, his mother, father and other relations but I could not get them. I then called their last born, a student at Oko Polytechnic but he said he had not spoken with him for long. I was confused until I opened Niger news and Vanguard Websites. That was how I got the shocking news about my husband. I collapsed and later called my kids to inform them what I just read about their father. 

Since then, I have not eaten, I am still in shock. Our children could not believe what they were reading about their father. They are saying that he cannot do all the things they said he did. In fact, while we were in Nigeria, he had never slept outside our house. My children were crying when they saw his bloody eyes and swollen face. Our condition was worsened when I saw my picture with him and our children on the face book. I don’t know where they got it. I have not been receiving money from him, I have never seen his money. The only thing I know is that there was a time he bought an expensive watch in Dubai and I wanted to know why he bought it when he could not open any business for me. He kept on teasing me, claiming it came from a friend. 

It was only when we wanted to travel to South Africa last year Christmas where we spent two years that he gave me N200, 000 for the trip. I have never seen him as a rich man. While with him, we made sure we had all we wanted to eat and that’s all. I can’t remember seeing any sign of affluence in him. He is not a proud man and he has been wearing one sandal and slippers for long now. He does not go for parties. In fact, I have never suspected him as a criminal. If I have been seeing any strange things, I would have suspected him. We have three cars, one Hilux, one grand Cherokee and an SUV. 

The N20m they said he sent to me through transfer was given to one Hausa man to pay into an account in Ghana to be used in paying our rent and furnish the house in Ghana. I know he banks with GTB only. Their staff used to visit us in the house. I am not aware that he has five girlfriends and I have never suspected him because he did not keep late nights. It was shocking to hear about his girlfriends. He did not answer calls in my presence. I used to see his phones being charged but he normally switched them off. I always asked him why use pin code to lock his phones and that he lived a secret life but he threatened to beat me if ever I touched any of his phones. I didn’t even know the security pin. 

He would leave the house sometimes in the evenings with his phones and would come back between 8pm and 9pm. Most of the things I read about him are strange to me. As his wife, I should have seen the signs but I have not. He has cancer and does not drink alcohol nor smoke anything. I have never seen gun in our house. I don’t know where they got those frightening guns. He has never told me he has another house at Igando. Any time he went out, he always called to ask after the children and reassure me that he would be back soon. 

I am suspecting that whatever happened to him must have come from his father’s second wife. I don’t know what he did to him when he was young but he told the story. He said that after their mother was driven out of the house, he was with his brothers playing outside one day when the second wife called him to pick a bucket and collect water for her. He was four years then, he picked the bucket, collected water and when he came back, she removed her dress and she was wearing only a bag made from animal skin on her waist. 

She brought seven small stones from the bag, gave to Evans and ordered him to pour the stones into the bucket to know if the gravel would rise (sail) on top of the water or not. Evans said he did as she directed but the only thing the woman did was to take the bucket back and ordered him to go back and play with his brothers. He said he told his father later but he said he was telling lies. I feel very bad because I did not know if he was doing all these or not. Even if he was into all these, why did he not stop because of me and his children? All the time when we pray, he used to promise God that he would tell Him his story later in life. Here reads psalm 23 a lot. 

Even his phone, he sets alarm for 12 noon to read psalm 23. He took part in our daily prayers in the morning, evening and night. He used to lead us in prayers. We attend Anglican Church. He has never given them money to show off. We used to give N5000 or N10,000 and the highest we have given so far was N50,000 when we baptised one of our children. I am appealing to the powers that be to spare his life (crying), as I speak now, I am kneeling down with my children, crying and begging for forgiveness. Have mercy on us. He did not know what he was doing. He did not know what came over him.

I am ready to come back to Nigeria and plead on his behalf. What I am reading in the news is shocking. Though, I have not heard that he killed anybody but all those he injured or took their money should please forgive him because me and my children. They should kindly forgive him, he will repent. God knows I will not be alive and see my husband doing bad thing and keep quiet. All his wealth should be sold off and given to his victims”

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