in what is an interesting turn of events, the wife and children of notorious billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, made an unlikely appearance at a summit in Aso Rock.
During the Federal Executive Council Retreat On Education at the Old Banquet Hall at the State House, the infamous picture of the kidnap suspect’s wife and children crying was used to demonstrate the education sector’s cry for help.
In what is most likely an unfortunate error in judgement, the infamous picture was displayed alongside the words “President Muhammadu Buhari. Please. Wipe away our tears. Education.”
The infamous photograph was used in a presentation in Aso RockThe photograph had appeared on the internet in July when the family of the kidnap suspect were appealing to Nigerians to forgive his crimes in what was a media circus.
Evans arrest and prosecution
Evans was arrested by a combined team of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Anti-Kidnap Unit of the Lagos State Police Command at one of his Magodo Phase II GRA, Lagos, home on June 10, 2017.
His arrest was followed by revelations of how he successfully carried out kidnappings and made millions of dollars from his victims, eluding the police during his decade-long reign of terror.
He’s already pleaded ‘not guilty’ to two-count charges of conspiracy and kidnapping before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Ikeja division of Lagos High Court.
He is being tried alongside five accomplices: Uche Amadi, Ogechi Izechuwku, Okechukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Chukwumonso.
The defendants are accused of capturing, detaining and collecting a ransom of £223,000 on Mr. Duru Donatius between Feb. 14 and April 12, 2017.
Evans arrives at the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere on October 27, 2017
Evans is also facing separate charges that include conspiracy, kidnap and murder before the Igbosere division of the Lagos High Court.
The charges relate to the alleged kidnap and murder of Sylvanius Ahanonu Hafiia, and the conspiracy and attempted kidnap of the chairman of The Young Shall Grow Motors, Vincent Obianodo.
Buhari says 13.2m children out of school
While speaking at the summit on Monday, President Buhari called for a change to the rot in the education system that’s responsible for an estimated 13.2 million children currently out of school.
He lamented that the education sector has been harmed by years of abuses, mindless impunity and corruption, and charged the summit to sharpen strategies for addressing the challenges of basic and secondary education.
He said the country cannot afford to be trailing the rest of the world in education and must employ crucial measures to raise the standard.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to confronting and tackling the challenges in the education sector as it would also help to secure and stabilise the country.
