Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, have chosen to pursue a plea bargain in their ongoing trial for murder and attempted kidnapping.

This development was revealed on Thursday when the case came up for re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Coker of an Ikeja High Court.

The state lead counsel, Yusuf Sule, informed the court that the defendants had applied for a plea bargain, and the terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro.

The defendants were initially scheduled to be re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony, kidnapping, and attempt to murder.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned fraudsters, declaring that it is ‘on the hunt’ for them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Executive Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ola Olukoyede, issued this warning, while speaking at the commissioning of the EFCC’s new radio station, 97.3FM on Thursday in Abuja, vowing that the agency will leave no stone unturned in its quest to track down and bring to justice all those involved in corrupt practices.

Olukoyede cautioned that the EFCC will not rest to fight corruption, stressing that the agency is now more determined than ever to rid the country of the scourge of corruption.

“We are getting stronger for the fight, and there will be no hiding place for fraudsters as EFCC will get them anywhere, anytime,” he declared.

The EFCC chairman’s warning came on the heels of the agency’s recent successes in prosecuting high-profile suspects and recovering billions of naira in looted funds.

The commission’s new radio station, which was inaugurated by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, is part of the EFCC’s strategy to engage with the public and mobilize support for its activities.

According to him, the station will provide a platform for the EFCC to share information, educate the public on the dangers of corruption, and receive feedback from Nigerians on its activities.

He said, “The journey to this epochal event commenced as far back as 2003, when the idea of establishing a radio station was first mooted under the leadership of one of my predecessors, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“For us in the EFCC, owning a radio station is not a status symbol, but an important organ of mobilization against graft where communication and public engagement have the same impact and depth as our operational activities. With our own radio station, we are in a better position to tell our stories, factually, ungarnished and unspun.”

On his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the EFCC for its efforts in combating corruption and urged the agency to continue its good work.

The Minister also charged the management and staff of the new radio station to operate in line with the principles and ethics of broadcasting and journalism.

He said, “As a public-facing agency, it is indeed very important for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to be deliberate and strategic about shaping the narratives around the all-important war being waged against corruption in our country.

“The Ministry of Information and National Orientation is resolute in restoring trust in public communication and amplifying the policies and programmes of the Federal Government. This is in line with the first two agendas of the ministry.”

By Adeyanju Esther

The Police Command in Delta has arrested three kidnap suspects including a foreigner over kidnapping incidents in the state.

The command‘s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe said to journalists on Thursday in Warri that the suspects were arrested on Saturday and Sunday at their hideouts in Warri.

Edafe said the suspects were arrested by the combined team of police operatives attached to the Orerokpe division, and operatives from the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja.

Some kidnapping incidents in the Warri axis revealed that it is being carried out by Yakubu Ya’u at Oha and Ughwagba Communities in Okpe Local Government Area.

“The suspect and his gang kidnap unsuspecting residents for ransom.

“On May 11, following combined effort from police operatives of the command and operatives from the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja on the hideout of the suspect.

“The DPO, Orerokpe division immediately mobilised and led his patrol teams to the suspect’s hideout in Warri, and after a painstaking search, he was arrested,” he said.

Edafe said that preliminary investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other key members of the gang which included a Cameroon national on Sunday.

He alleged that the suspects were responsible for the several kidnap incidents in Orerokpe, Sapele, Warri, and environs, adding that the victims had equally identified them.

Edafe said the suspects led the police detectives to Ughwagba Community in Okpe Local Government Area, where two Automatic pump action guns, a live Cartridge, and one knife were recovered.

He said that preliminary investigations were ongoing, adding that the command has intensified efforts to arrest the other fleeing members of the gang.