- The Lagos state government says it would ensure Evans is not spared in the cases he has before the court
- Adeniji Kazeem, the attorney-general and justice commissioner, notes that Lagos government is committed to ensure a logical conclusion of the case
- Kazeem also speaks on the achievements of the justice ministry
No effort would be spared in ensuring the logical conclusion of the cases filed in court against alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, the Lagos state government has assured.
Evans, who was arrested at his mansion in Magodo area of Lagos last year, is being prosecuted by the state government in court alongside others for masterminding and executing series of high profile kidnappings and murder.
This was disclosed by Adeniji Kazeem, the attorney-general and justice commissioner, at the ongoing ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa as part of activities marking the third year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.
READ ALSO: 2019: PDP considering changing name, holds emergency meeting
According to Kazeem, the state government was committed to ensure the logical conclusion of all pending cases in court and serve justice to the people.
“On the Evans’ matter, the cases filed against him are ongoing in court. The issue is that the lawyer representing him is trying to play some games to delay the matter but in all his games, we have been defeating him in court.
“We have filed different cases. Some are for kidnapping and some bordered on murder and his lawyer is fighting all the cases but what I can assure the people is that we are committed to ensure the matter is concluded and defeat him at the end of the day,” Kazeem said while reeling out activities of the agencies under the ministry in the last one year.
He said the state government received and treated a total number of 11,451 cases through the special task force against Land Grabbers, Domestic and S*xual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and the special offences (Mobile) court in the last one year.
The commissioner said the government also received 316 inquiries through the recently unveiled first state-owned DNA and forensic centre with 71 active cases currently ongoing bordering on hom*cide, r*pe, toxicology, child trafficking, serology, among others.
“In the period under review, over 35 arrests of suspected notorious land grabbers were effected while 26 criminal prosecution cases against suspected land grabbers are presently ongoing,” he said.
Speaking further, he said: “The ministry has noted an increase in report of domestic abuse against men. To date, the DSVRT has received a total number of 131 cases in this regard.
"Overall, a total number of 1771 cases were reported during the period under review. The team also provided free medical services and psycho-social therapy for over 700 survivors of domestic/sexual violence, conducted capacity building trainings with 220 police officers across the state, and successfully secured the conviction of seven perpetrators."
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Kazeem added that through the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC), the state government received a total number of 47,292 new cases free of charge out of which 25,191 were resolved with others at various stages of resolution.
“The total value of settlement of debt related matters achieved by the centre during the period under review from May 2017 to April 2018 as settlement between parties was N1,352,745,391,” the attorney general said, among other achievements by the state government in the justice sector.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Police Service Commission on Thursday, April 19, said that 45 officers who participated in the successful arrest of notorious kidnap kingpin, Evans, have been granted special promotion.
A statement signed by the commission's head, press and public relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said that thirteen of the officers were promoted in acting capacity because they weren’t eligible for substantive promotion. The promotions come a year after Evans was arrested in Lagos alongside over 20 suspected members of his gang.
Evans the kidnapper lands in Kirikiri prison after first appearance in court - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
