State prosecutor, Y. G. Oshoala, has filed an application before Justice Adedayo Akintoye an Igbosere High Court in Lagos seeking to add a senior lawyer, Femi Falana, as a witness in the trial of the suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans.
Mr Oshoala told the court on Thursday that an issue came up during trial within trial which required an additional witness to be called.
Evans had on January 16 told the court that his confessional statement made to the police after his arrest in 2017, was done under duress.
The court immediately opened a trial within trial to determine if the suspect actually made a statement under duress.
Oshoala told the court on Thursday that during trial within trial Evans said that Mr Falana came to visit him while in police custody but was prevented from seeing him due to excessive torture which he was subjected to.
The prosecutor said he wanted the senior lawyer to appear as a witness for the interest of justice.
However, counsel to Evans, R. B. Ekeh, said he had not responded to the application, adding that other defendants’ counsel said that they were not served with the application.
Oshala said that “the issue came up during trial within trial of the first defendant (Evans) therefore does not concern the other defendants”.
Justice Akintoye ordered that all the defendants be served and that those concerned would reply.
The judge adjourned the case until September 18.
