THE BILLIONAIRE KIDNAPPER — THE RISE AND FALL OF EVANS (2012–PRESENT) cover art

THE BILLIONAIRE KIDNAPPER — THE RISE AND FALL OF EVANS (2012–PRESENT)

THE BILLIONAIRE KIDNAPPER — THE RISE AND FALL OF EVANS (2012–PRESENT)

Listen for free

View show details

Summary

 THE BILLIONAIRE KIDNAPPER — THE RISE AND FALL OF EVANS (2012–PRESENT)For seven years, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike known simply as Evans terrorised Lagos and beyond, abducting over 20 businessmen, collecting millions of dollars in ransoms, and evading a police most-wanted list in three states before his arrest on June 10, 2017, at his mansion in Magodo, Lagos.─────────────────────────────IN THIS EPISODEIn this episode we investigate the case of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, Nigeria's most notorious kidnap kingpin. Between 2012 and 2017, Evans and his gang abducted over 20 victims across Lagos, Edo, and Anambra states, demanding ransoms in US dollars and euros sometimes exceeding $1 million per victim. His arrest on June 10, 2017, at his magodo Estate mansion shocked Nigeria not just because of his crimes, but because of the ordinary life he had built around them a family home, two mansions, and a neighbourhood that never suspected a thing.─────────────────────────────THE CASE AT A GLANCE• Primary Victim (Trial): Donatus Dunu, CEO Maydon Pharmaceuticals, kidnapped February 14, 2017, Ilupeju, Lagos• Secondary Victim (Trial): Sylvanus Hafia, kidnapped June 23, 2014, Kara Street, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos• Additional Victim (Trial): Chief James Uduji, kidnapped September 7, 2015, 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos• Suspect: Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (Evans), native of Nnewi, Anambra State• Co-defendants: Victor Aduba, Uche Amadi, Okechukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Joseph Emeka, Linus Opara• Convicted: September 2022 — 21 years imprisonment (Hafia case)• Status: 5 separate criminal cases still ongoing; re-arraigned October 2025 for murder of two police officers• Case opened: August 30, 2017─────────────────────────────WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE— Who Evans was before the kidnappings — and how a small-time criminal became Nigeria's most wanted— How the gang selected targets: wealthy businessmen, traders, Lebanese merchants, all in Lagos— The Valentine's Day 2017 abduction of Donatus Dunu and how his miraculous escape from a Igando hideout brought the entire gang down— How Evans demanded ransoms in US dollars and euros, collected at drop-off points across Lagos— The inside story of his arrest at 3 Fred Shogboyede Street, Magodo Estate— His confessions on video and what he said about how much he collected— Why three of his gang members were extra-judicially kille by police and what that means for the trial— Where the cases stand today and why, eight years later, not all of them are closed─────────────────────────────KEY PEOPLE MENTIONEDChukwudumeme Onwuamadike (Evans) — convicted billionaire kidnapper, native of Nnewi, Anambra State; sentenced to 21 years in 2022; still facing 4 additional criminal cases including murder of two police officers as of 2025Donatus Dunu — CEO of Maydon Pharmaceuticals, Ilupeju Lagos kidnapped February 14, 2017; escaped from Igando hideout on May 12, 2017 after 88 days in captivity; his escape directly led to Evans' arrestSylvanus Hafia — kidnapped June 23, 2014, Amuwo Odofin Lagos victim in the case Evans was convicted on in September 2022Chief James Uduji — kidnapped September 7, 2015, Festac Town Lagos held six weeks paid $1.2 million ransomVictor Aduba — co-defendant, former soldier; convicted alongside Evans in the Hafia case; 21-year sentenceFelix Chinemerem — Evans' second-in-command; arrested prior to Evans; Abia State nativeJustice Oluwatoyin Taiwo — judge who sentenced Evans to 21 years, Ikeja Special Offences Court, September 2022Justice A. O. Ogala — presiding judge in the ongoing police murder case, Lagos High Court Ikeja, 2025─────────────────────────────TIMELINE2012 — Evans gang begins operating in Lagos, targeting businessmen in Festac, Ajah, and Badagry; ransoms initially in nairaAugust 3, 2012 — Paul Cole, Director at Ocean Glory Commodities, kidnapped in Festac Town; N5 million ransom paidAugust 19, 2012 — Mohammed Jamal, Lebanese national, kidnapped in Ajah; N7 million ransom paid at Ojo Barracks2013 — Attempted kidnap of Chief Vincent Obianudo, owner of Young Shall Grow Motors; two Evans gang members killed by police, one police officer killed by Evans escapes2014–2016 — Evans escalates to dollar-denominated ransoms; victims include James Uduji ($1.2m), Raymond Okoye ($1m), Uche Okoroafor ($1m), Elias Ukachukwu ($1m), Francis Umeh ($1m); Evans added to police most-wanted list in Lagos, Edo, and Anambra StatesFebruary 14, 2017 — Donatus Dunu abducted outside his ilupeju office by Evans gang; taken to 21 Prophet Asaye Close, Igando, Lagos; one million...
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
No reviews yet