A defendant and wife of an alleged kidnapper, Ogechi Uchechukwu, who was arrested alongside Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, in the criminal allegations of kidnap, Uche Amadi, on Tuesday told the court that her husband lied about his involvement with the alleged kidnap kingpin.
Ogechi informed the court presided by Justice Hakeem Oshodi that her husband had travelled from Port Harcourt to Lagos in 2016 after receiving a call from his friend, Somtochuckwu alias Evans, who invited him to come and do a job (nature of the job not mentioned).
She said her husband lied in his evidence before the court that he only visited Lagos for the first time after he was arrested by the police on May 24, 2017.
The witness, Ogechi, her husband (Amadi), Evans and three others: Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba are standing trial before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos for allegedly kidnapping one Mr Donatius Dunu who is the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Ltd.
While testifying, in her defence, on a two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping, Ogechi said, “I own a shop and sell provisions in Port Harcourt. I was in Port Harcourt when I was arrested by the police. But my Lord I visited Lagos, with my son, in August 2016 during the long (school) vacation.
“My husband invited me to Lagos in August and I spent 2weeks there before I returned to Port Harcourt. It was on May 24, 2017 when a Hilux Van, filled with policemen, packed in front of my shop. The police officers marched into the shop, saw my husband and arrested him.
“So if anyone comes to this court and say that Amadi has never been to Lagos except in 2017 when he was arrested, then that person must be lying”.
This testimony by Ogechi came shortly after her husband, Amadi, had earlier testified that he had never visited Lagos prior to his arrest.
Amadi, in his defence, told the court that he was arrested alongside his wife in Port Harcourt and that he didn’t know or have any relationship with Evans.
However, while led in evidence by her lawyer, Chris Obiaka, the 3rd defendant (ogechi) said, ” When the police officers arrested my husband, they also dragged me along when I tried to ask them what offence he committed.
“They took us to a police station in Port Harcourt and I spent three weeks there.
“They later transferred us to Lagos where I spent 3 months before we were charged to court.
” At the station in Port Harcourt, they asked me if I knew that my husband is a kidnapper and I said no. I told them that my husband is a taxi driver and when he is off from work, he helps me out in the shop”.
When asked when she got married to the 2nd defendant (Amadi), she said, “We got married in 2004 after my Diploma in Marketing at the University of Calabar. We have a son together.”
When asked if she lived with her husband and knew the kind of business he did while in Lagos, she said No.
When ask if her husband ever visited home in Port Harcourt, she said, “He never visited home while he was in Lagos. He only travelled back with us to Port Harcourt after my visit to Lagos in August”.
During cross-examination by the State prosecution, Adebayo Haroun, the witness said that her husband was formerly doing a clothing business in 2004 at Aba, Ariaria International market before he got a contract job and they relocated to Port Harcourt.
She further said that they moved to Port Harcourt in 2013 when her son was 9-years old.
“My husband got a contract to drive a big truck that carries dirts (from dustbins) but he left Port Harcourt in 2016 to Lagos,” she confirmed.
When asked why her husband left Port Harcourt, she said, “my husband told me that his friend invited him to Lagos. He said his friend, Somtochuckwu and I believed him”.
” Was your husband always at home with you throughout your two weeks stay in Lagos?” The prosecutor asked and she replied in the affirmative.
The prosecution further asked, “in your statement to the police, you referred to the name ” Evans Somtochuckwu” as the name of your husband’s friend that invited him to Lagos?” And she replied “Yes”.
When asked if that her husband’s friend was inside the courtroom, Ogechi said yes, while pointing straight at the 1st defendant (Evans).
When asked if she recalls the house or area she visited her husband, she replied, “No. I took a bus from God is Good Motors to Lagos and entered a taxi, which my husband called for me”.
“You were in court when the victim/PW1, Donatus Dunu, said that where he was kept, he heard a voice of a woman and her child?” The prosecutor asked and she replied yes.
She said that stayed in a 3 bedroom bungalow apartment when she visited her husband in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the couple/defendants (Amadi and Ogechi) are being accused of providing a detention camp at No. 21 Prophet Ashaye Close, New Igando, Lagos for victims kidnapped by the alleged kingpin, Evans.
Uche Amadi was reportedly identified as the leader of Detention Gang, one of the two groups coordinated by Evans.
Justice Oshodi thereafter adjourned the matter till 9th of July for continuation of Defence