Billionaire Kidnapper; Produce Evan’s Brother-in-law, Court Orders Police

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the police to produce in court, Okwuchukwu Obiechina, the brother-in-law of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans. Justice Mohammed Idris, who gave the order, said Obiechina must be brought before him on October 12. The order followed a suit filed by Obiechina, urging the court to order his release from police custody.

His lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, said Obiechina had been “detained” by the police since June 2 in connection with the criminal charge brought against Evans. Obiechina and his wife, Nzube, who are both plaintiffs, had sued the state Commissioner of Police, the police, and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state.

Yesterday, Ogungbeje had appeared before Justice Idris with an ex parte application, urging the court to order Obiechina’s release.

However, Justice Idris, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), did not grant the application, but directed the lawyer to put the police on notice with an order that it must produce Obiechina before him on October 12 and also show cause why a release order should not be made.

In a 15-paragraph affidavit in support of the ex parte application, the counsel said Obiechina was arrested by a team of policemen and that Obiechina’s arrest was due to his relationship with Evans. He claimed that the accused has not committed any offence known to law to warrant their being arrested and detained.