Billionaire kidnapper: Why I’m defending Evans – Lawyer, Ogungbeje

Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, who has been hired by
billionaire kidnapper Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans has
justified his decision to defend suspected billionaire criminal in
court.

The lawyer has come under public bashing for deciding to stand
for Evans.

But, speaking with Sun, Ogungbeje, accused a section of the
media, as well as many Nigerians of being ignorant of the law.

He noted that it was settled in law that “no matter the bases of
the complaints of the cause of your crime, no matter how unpopular
is the cause of your crime, no matter how bad is the cause of your
crime, the legal practitioner has a duty to take up the cause, if
he’s properly briefed and provided that person represents his
client within the bounds of law.

“That is my answer to your question. So, no matter the public
opinion, I have the responsibility to take up the matter. We were
properly briefed. So, our action is based on law.

“And we want to represent our client within the bounds of law,
within the confines of law.

“So, if you for instance, you’re a journalist, if you brief me…
you don’t want me to take up your cause, because people are saying
negative things about you, or because people have condemned you and
found you guilty before the media, that I should not take up your
case?

“Look, let me tell you right away. We were briefed two weeks
ago. And I told them to give me two weeks to think, whether I would
take up the brief or not. I did my consultations.

“We consulted even journalists, you can go and make enquiries. I
consulted my people. I consulted senior lawyers. So, have I done
what is wrong by taking the cause of my clients? Forget what people
say in the court of public of opinion.”

Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, who has been hired by
billionaire kidnapper Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans has
justified his decision to defend suspected billionaire criminal in
court.

The lawyer has come under public bashing for deciding to stand
for Evans.

But, speaking with Sun, Ogungbeje, accused a section of the
media, as well as many Nigerians of being ignorant of the law.

He noted that it was settled in law that “no matter the bases of
the complaints of the cause of your crime, no matter how unpopular
is the cause of your crime, no matter how bad is the cause of your
crime, the legal practitioner has a duty to take up the cause, if
he’s properly briefed and provided that person represents his
client within the bounds of law.

“That is my answer to your question. So, no matter the public
opinion, I have the responsibility to take up the matter. We were
properly briefed. So, our action is based on law.

“And we want to represent our client within the bounds of law,
within the confines of law.

“So, if you for instance, you’re a journalist, if you brief me…
you don’t want me to take up your cause, because people are saying
negative things about you, or because people have condemned you and
found you guilty before the media, that I should not take up your
case?

“Look, let me tell you right away. We were briefed two weeks
ago. And I told them to give me two weeks to think, whether I would
take up the brief or not. I did my consultations.

“We consulted even journalists, you can go and make enquiries. I
consulted my people. I consulted senior lawyers. So, have I done
what is wrong by taking the cause of my clients? Forget what people
say in the court of public of opinion.”