Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Nigerian Trial Commences For Maryland Lawyer Accused Of Diversion Of $1.5 Million Nigerian Funds
Emeka Ugwuonye
By SaharaReporters, New York
Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court today in Abuja admitted documents relating to the refusal of Emeka Ugwuonye, a Nigerian lawyer accused of diverting to himself funds belonging to the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC.
Today’s trial relates to Ugwuonye's refusal to declare his assets as provided by law soon after his arrest by the EFCC in February as he tried to return to his base in Maryland, United States, after a trip to Nigeria.
The judge admitted three documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the court took the testimony of the investigating EFCC officer who interrogated Ugwuonye while in custody for failure to declare his assets.
The court also admitted into record a statement by the Nigerian ambassador to the US, Ade Adefuye.
The case was then adjourned till December 16 2011 for the court to commence full trial, but the substantive case of diversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian state will come up tomorrow at the Abuja High court before Justice Suleiman Belgore for mention.
Mr. Ugwuonye is accused by the EFCC of diverting $1.5 million which were proceeds of tax refunds from the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after completing a real estate transaction on behalf of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC for which he was fully paid.
For his part, Mr. Ugwuonye claims that the Nigerian government owed him monies from defending several cases on behalf of the Nigerian state.
Recently, however, the former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, revealed that Ugwuonye was fully paid by the Nigerian government which helped bail out a former military ruler, Abdusalam Abubakar.
It was Abubakar who had retained Ugwuonye to defend him in Chicago, Illinois, after the former dictator was sued there for human rights abuses that led to the death in detention, under Abubakar's watch, of the winner of the June 12 1992 election, Chief Moshood Abiola.
Apart from the criminal charges in Nigeria, Mr. Ugwuonye also faces professional misconduct
investigations before the Attorney Grievances Commission in Maryland as well as a civil lawsuit in Washington DC over the allegations. He has previously been professionally disciplined in the states Maryland and othe jurisdiction like New York and Washington DC.
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RELEASE MR. EMEKA UGWUONYE
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 26, 2011 - 12:45.
Release Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye, he has done nothing wrong & Nigerian governments should stop twisting the story. Nigerian governments are owing him, i know about this case right before he was arrested by EFCC. How can you work for someone without pay? When the case is being brought up for his payment, stories upon stories all just for him not to be paid. How will you feel working for someone without pay? EFCC if your looking for crime committers or fraudulers, they are all there in the government offices. Go & get them & leave an innocent man alone..... Release him PERIOD!!!
Who Will Bell The Cat?
Submitted by Wähala (not verified) on October 26, 2011 - 00:00.
When will the EFCC prosecute Dumbo for failure to declare his assets, or is he above the law? Selective justice is as evil as denied justice.
Now at least, he will have a chance to tell his side of the story. Diverting federal funds into personal account is greed à là extra class! Welcome to jungle justice!!!
Informative
Submitted by Joseph Agunbiade (not verified) on October 25, 2011 - 21:01.
This is really informative. Thanks.
