Absence of defence counsels stalled the trial of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chuckwueme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, Friday.
Although a new counsel for Evans, Nuel Brown, announced appearance in place of Olukoya Ogungbeje, who withdrew from the case earlier in the week, two other defendants have no legal representation in court.
Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, second and fourth defendants respectively, told the court that they intend to change their counsel.
Evans is standing trial alongside Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba.
They were arraigned on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy.
However, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed proceedings on Friday, Brown announced appearance for Evans and Uchechukwu for the first time after Ogungbeje withdrew from the case.
Mr. A.A Uzouow and Emmanuel Ochai announced appearance for Ifeanyi and Aduba, the fifth and sixth defendants respectively.
However, Brown asked for adjournment to enable him go through the case file properly.
“My Lord, we took over this matter two weeks ago and we do not have the proper proof of evidence.
“With due respect to the honorable court, the learned counsel who was handling the matter before did not do a proper handing over and we have written to the prosecution to avail us with copy of the proof of evidence.
“We have asked the prosecution for the file orally and we will still write formally to that effect,” the counsel said.
