A Lagos High Court has ordered Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, to pay the sum of 233,000 Euros ransom he collected from Donatus Dunu. Duru, a Pharmacist had filed a suit at the Lagos High Court sitting the Tafawa Balewa square filed Suit No: LD/5243GCM/2018 demanding the return of the €223,000 and N50m as damages. In his judgment Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi ordered Evans already serving time in prison to refund the 233,000 euros and also pay N50m as general damages in favour of the claimant. Duru was kidnapped by Evans in February 14, 2017, but Duru manage to escape from captivity
However, in his defense, Evans contended that the strength of the Claimant’s case was predicated majorly upon criminal trial against him and others in Suit No. 1D/5970C/2017. Evans submitted the judgment delivered by Justice O.H. Oshodi on February 25, 2022 is now subject of an Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division. However, Justice Ogunjobi said while delivering judgement: “It is settled law that no witness who gives materially inconsistent evidence on oath is entitled to the honour of being accorded any credibility and as such does not deserve to be treated as a truthful witness. “Besides adducing conflicting pieces of evidence on oath, I have watched the demeanor of the Defendant in the witness box when giving evidence and came to the conclusion that the Defendant is not a witness of truth. “I do not believe his evidence. I accept the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence of the Claimant and his witnesses. The evidence supports the reliefs sought by the Claimant. “Consequently, the Claimant is entitled to be paid or repaid and or recover from the Defendant, the sum of Euros 233,000 ransom coercively paid by the Claimant to Defendant when the Defendant kidnapped the Claimant in the year 2017 and held the Claimant hostage for months. “The sum of N50m is awarded as general damages in favour of the Claimant against the Defendant. “Post-judgment interest is awarded on the said sum of Euros 233,000 at the rate of 10% per annum from judgment i.e. 14th of February, 2023 until final liquidation. The adjudged said sum of Euros 233,000 and N50m is hereby ordered to be paid or recovered from the Assets of the Defendant. This is the judgment of the Court.”
