Change of counsel stalls fraud trial of conman, Emmanuel Nwude
By Moji Eniola
Ikeja, March 14, 2017 (NAN) A change of counsel on Wednesday stalled the property fraud trial of Emmanuel Nwude, a convicted conman and former Director of Union Bank of Nigeria at an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwude alongside two lawyers, Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Roland Kalu, is facing a 15-count charge of forging the documents of a property forfeited in judgment delivered in 2005.
Justice Joseph Oyewole had in the judgment ordered Nwude to forfeit the property to victims of his fraud during his conviction for a record $242million bank fraud.
The property is located at Plot Y, Mobolaji Johnson Street, Oregun in Alausa, Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was to open its case against the trio during Wednesday’s proceedings.
Proceedings were however, stalled because a lawyer, Mr Victor Okpara, had told court that he would be taking over as Nwude’s lead defence counsel from Mr Stephen Amallagoge.
Okpara in his submission noted that Amallagoge would still be a member of Nwude’s defence team.
“I was briefed, regarding the first defendant on Thursday while I was in Abuja. I have not received any instruction regarding this matter.
“I pray my lord gives me time to look at the file so that I can give my client invaluable services,” he said.
The EFCC’s Prosecutor, Mr Nnaemeka Omewa, however, opposed the request for an adjournment by the defence.
“Mr Amallagoge has been in this matter from inception and from the date of arraignment, the court had given us accelerated hearing, we are ready to proceedings in this case,” he said.
Justice Mojisola Dada, however, acceded to Okpara’s request for an adjournment
“This case is adjourned till 16 and 18 April for trial,” she ruled.
Nwude was convicted in 2005 for defrauding Banco Noroeste, a Brazilian bank of $242 million between 1995 and 1998, the third largest bank fraud in world banking history at the time.
He perpetuated the fraud by impersonating Mr Paul Ogwuma, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who served from Oct. 1, 1993 to May 29, 1999.
The fraud resulted in the eventual collapse of Banco Noroeste in 2001.
Nwude was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the fraud in 2005 by Justice Joseph Oyewole of an Ikeja High Court.
His conviction was the first major conviction for the then newly established EFCC.
Nwude was, however, released from prison in 2006. (NAN)
MAE/SN
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Edited by Silas Nwoha