Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Nigerian Court Remands Maryland Lawyer Accused Of Stealing Clients Funds Pending Bail Hearing
Emeka Ugwuonye
Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye arriving Lagos High Court, Igbosere on Tuesday, Nov, 15, 2011 for allegedly defrauding his Client of $
By SaharaReporters, New York
A Lagos high court has remanded Emeka Ugwuonye, a Maryland lawyer accused of stealing $94,000 belonging to his client in the jail cells of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending a bail hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Mr. Ugwuonye was arrested by the EFCC in Abuja after he appeared at another trial for fraud charges relating to confiscation of $1.5 million tax returns from a real estate transaction on behalf of the Nigerian Embassy in the US.
EFCC attorneys today said they have filed papers to oppose Ugwuonye's bail on Thursday. The judge, Justice Christopher Balogun, adjourned the case till Thursday after setting trial date for January 24 2011.
Mr. Ugwuonye was returned to EFCC detention after today's hearing.
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So called 'learned people'.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 16, 2011 - 07:51.
So called 'learned people'. A self-imposed title that is synomous with greed, bribery, intimidation, corruption and lies.
And average lawyer in Nigeria is fast gaining the reputation of rogues. Hire them for suit, the next thing is asking you to forget about the case most likely because the opposite camp has 'seen' him. When you steal govt. money he stands for you to get his share. When you rig an election, he stands for you looking for technicalities and raising unnecessary preliminary objections to delay justice. They seek unnecessary adjournments to frustrate litigants. Based on my personal research, less than 45% of them are good and striaght forward especially lawyers in Lagos. They are the ones helping to clean up the mess their colleagues else where in Nigeria are doing.
Try him. If he is guilty,
Submitted by Richard in US (not verified) on November 15, 2011 - 18:50.
Try him. If he is guilty, jail him but if not, release him ASAP.
How dubious could a man be?
Submitted by Darlington Bari (not verified) on November 15, 2011 - 16:24.
Was he just using his robe to steal from his client? Lawyers! There are much more of his type here in Nigeria and they made up of 95% of our National assembly member. They are the fat cat benefiting from this sham democracy, with court cases in every giving elections.
