Charity Aiyedogbon: Ugwuonye, 4 others charged for murder, armed robbery - ITREALMS

GenderICT@ITREALMS:

Late Charity Aiyedogbon

Dismissed Lagos Lawyer, Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye has been charged before a High Court in Abuja, alongside four others over their alleged involvement in the dastard killing of Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon, reports ITREALMS.

The charge obtained by ITREALMS, with number CR/20/2018, showed the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command as complainant and Ephraim Chukeuemeka Ugwuonye and four others as defendants, centered on Criminal Conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

Other accused persons charged alongside Ugwuonye are: Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel, Ikechukwu James Ezegwu and Michael Leo Oyong.

Details of the charge sheet reads in part:

“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Chukwuemeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’, on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Criminal Conspiracy when you agreed with amongst yourself and robbed one Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon (now late) of her property and killed her. You therefore committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 6 (b) of Robbery and Fire Arms (special provisions) Act Cap. RII LFN 2004.”

“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’ on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Armed Robbery when you armed yourselves with cutlasses and other offensive weapons, attacked and robbed Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon ‘F’ (now late) of her Accura ZDX Jeep with registration number RSH 225 AH Abuja gray colour, one Samsung Galaxy phone, one Itel 1408 phone, one Iphone and Ipad and other valuables….”

“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’ on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Culpable Homicide, when you intentionally attacked one Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon ‘F’ (now late) with cutlasses and other offensive weapon and killed her, when you both knew that death is the probable consequence of your action. You thereby committed offence contrary to and punishable under section 221 of the penal code law.”

Similarly, Mr. Ugwuonye is facing a fresh 10-count charge of extortion, impersonation, injurious falsehood and false information.

The Charge, with number CR/19/2018, between the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command (complainant) and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye (defendant) is also before a High Court in Abuja.

The Charge Sheet reads in part:

“Extortion by threat of accusation of an offense punishable by death, Injurious falsehood against the Nigerian Police, Injurious falsehood against David Aiyedogbon, Giving false information with the intent to mislead public servants, Obstruction Public Servant in the discharge of his functions, Insultive or abusive language against the Nigerian Police Force, Influencing cause of Justice and Inciting Public disturbance.”

Others are: “Failing to assist Public Servants, when bound by law to assist, when you were aware about the investigation into the killing of late Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon to arrest the killers whom you knew and had prior knowledge of how one of the suspects Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu escaped from Nigeria immediately after committing the offence without arresting or giving the Police useful information as to who is to be investigated for the sad killing; Impersonation, when you have reasons to know that your name has been struck off of Legal Practitioners roll by the Supreme Court of Nigeria even when you knew that you have been disbarred and your name struck off the roll of Legal practitioners in Nigeria.”

Hearing date for the two new cases are yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ugwuonye is already facing two other criminal charges and two civil suits bothering on defamation and false evidence.

It would be recalled that Mr. Ugwuonye was first arraigned alongside two Abuja-based lawyers, Nsikak Udoh and Farouk Khamagam before a Chief Magistrate Court for their alleged criminal roles in the disappearance of missing (now late) Abuja woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.

Emeka Ugwuonye is charged with false evidence and injurious falsehood, contrary to sections: 158 and 393 of the Penal Code; while the other two lawyers were charged with criminal conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, giving false information with intent to mislead a public servant contrary to sections 97, 364, 179, and 178 of the Penal Code.

Ugwuonye is on court bail in the sum of Five Million Naira (N5m), with a surety, a Civil Servant that earns not less than Three Hundred Thousand Naira monthly, with a traceable address in the Federal capital territory.

Ugwuonye, who had claimed in the exhibits tendered before the court, to have overwhelming evidence that the missing woman, Charity Aiyedogbon was dead, and that she was killed by her estranged husband, David Aiyedogbon, is expected to show the evidence before the Court.

His trouble may have started when, in different posts on his Facebook group, Due Process Advocates- DPA, he said:

“I now have overwhelming evidence that Mr. David Aiyedogbon killed his wife, Chacha. David has an idea of the kind of evidence at my disposal.”

In another post, he said: “this is the headless and dismembered body of Charity Aiyedogbon (posting a corpse on his DPA Facebook group). DPA has been able to identify this as her body within the limits of resources at our disposal.”

“I will describe David as a low-life and cold-blooded murderer of his own wife.”

“…the issue is not whether Emeka’s account is accurate or not, but, rather, the issue is whether Emeka has evidence that would send David to the hangman. Yes, I do…”

When invited by the Police to produce the evidence, after several meetings, Ugwuonye was unable to produce any, to substantiate his claims.

Ugwuonye is already facing a N10b defamation suit filed by Mr. David Aiyedogbon. The Suit, with number CV/2750/16, before Justice Peter Kekemeke of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 14, Apo Abuja, also prays that the defendant be ordered to pay the cost of the suit.

Meanwhile, the other two Abuja-based lawyers, Nsikak Udoh and Farouk Khamagam, charged alongside Ugwuonye are said to have confessed in writing to the Police that they forged the signature of their missing client (now late), Charity Aiyedogbon in a suit filed at Federal High Court, Lokoja and served on Mr. David Aiyedogbon, two weeks after the disappearance of Charity Aiyedogbon. The suit has since been resolved in favour of Mr. Aiyedogbon.

Their trouble started when, those believed to be close to the missing woman were quoted as saying that she went missing on the 9th of May, 2016, but her lawyer, Nsikak Udoh, handling a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lokoja on 29th April, 2016 against 29 respondents, including her biological children and former husband, David Aiyedogbon, claimed she (Charity) came to his house on the 18th of May, 2016.

Following questions arising from the lawyer’s claim of meeting with the missing woman eight days after her purported disappearance, the Police invited him for questioning wherein he allegedly confessed that her signature was forged.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Charity Aiyedogbon's murder: Ugwuonye docked again - ITREALMS Online

ITREALMS:

The disbarred Lagos lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye was on Monday arraigned before Magistrate Court 9, Wuse, Abuja, presided over by Abdulaziz Omezia on a nine-count charge of obstruction and interference with Police investigation, offensive publications among other seven charges, reports ITRealms.

The charge reads “extortion by threat of accusation, an offence punishable by death, injurious falsehood, defamation, giving false information, with intent to mislead public servant, obstructing public servant in discharge of his duty, use of insulting or abusive language, influencing course of justice, fabricating false evidence, inciting disturbance, failing to assist public servant when bound by law  to assist and influencing course of justice contrary to sections 295, 393, 392, 140, 148, 399, 182, 158, 114, 150 and 182 of the Penal Code.”

Some other charges preferred against him are within the jurisdiction of the High Court and would be appropriately filed when High courts resume from holidays.

When the charges were read out to him in court on Monday, he pleaded not guilty. The matter is adjourned to August 23, 2018. He was however granted bail under stringent conditions, including two Civil Servants not below grade level 12, among other requirements. As at the time of filing this report, he is yet to fulfil the bail conditions.

Ugwuonye was arrested last Friday by men of the FCT Police command in Abuja over his alleged infamous role in the obstruction of investigations into the murder of Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.

His arrest followed a petition against him over offensive publications and alleged obstruction of police investigations in the case of late Charity Aiyedogbon.

The Petition, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Abuja, written by Juris Associates, signed by Uzoma Nnona, Esq, captioned “Complaint of Offensive Publications and Distortion of facts amounting to Interference with ongoing Police investigation into the death of Mrs. Charity Aiyedogbon, against Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye”, dated 25^th June, 2018; urged the Police to investigate Mr. Ugwuonye over his recent online posts on the late Mrs. Aiyedogbon’s case.

The petition reads in part:

“It is important to note at this point that the said confession of the arrested suspect, Mr. Chukwuemeka Paul Ezeugo clearly corroborated the eye witness account of Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye, which was published on his Due Process Advocate page on Facebook in May 2016, suggesting that he had pre-knowledge of the crime but concealed it.”

“It is also on record that Mr. Ugwuonye did not report to the Police the information about the disappearance and now death of our client’s estranged wife, which he now claims to have had before the confession of the principal suspects, even though he was invited several times by the police over this matter.”

“…the Commissioner of Police should kindly direct that Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye be invited, for questioning, over his recent statements on his Due Process Advocates page on Facebook, as it is obvious that he has privileged information on the disappearance and eventual death of Mrs. Charity Aiyedogbon, having discredited the investigation of the FCT Police Command and the parade of the principal suspects in this matter.”

Ugwuonye had, shortly after the confessional statement and eventual parade of the principal suspect in the case of the late Charity Aiyedogbon, Chukwujekwu Ezeugo, posted several disturbing comments, discrediting police investigation and procedure. He allegedly claimed to have conducted a private investigation that was superior to that of the Police, a claim he is said to have bungled all opportunities created by the police to enable him prove himself.

Ugwuonye is also accused of interfering with police investigation by allegedly aiding the suspect to escape arrest sometime in 2016.     

Meanwhile, Ugwuonye is facing three other suits over his alleged defamatory statements against some persons in relation to late Charity Aiyedogbon.

One of them is a Ten Billion Naira suit instituted against him by ex-husband of late Charity, Mr. David Aiyedogbon, who approached the Court to seek redress following the alleged refusal of Ugwuonye to desist from posting materials he considered defamatory on his Facebook group, The Due Process Advocates. He also wrote Mr. Ugwuonye through his lawyers, demanding an apology and retraction, but he refused to heed, leaving Mr. Aiyedogbon with no option, but to approach the court to seek justice.

Ugwuonye had falsely accused Mr. Aiyedogbon of having a hand in the sudden disappearance of his estranged wife, Charity Aiyedogbon, a claim he is unable to substantiate till date.

In addition to the Ten Billion Naira damages, the Suit, with number CV/2750/16, between David Aiyedogbon (Plaintiff) and Emeka Ugwuonye (Defendant) on defamation of character, before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 14, Apo, Abuja; also prays that the defendant be ordered to pay for the cost of the litigation.

The Plaintiff is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction “restraining the Defendant, his Agents, Privies, Associates or whosoever called” from making further defamatory publications against him and his family members.

Mr. Ugwuonye is accused of posting severally on The Due Process Advocates (DPA), a Facebook group, claiming to have evidence of the involvement of the late Charity Aiyedogbon’s ex-husband, David Aiyedogbon in her sudden disappearance. One of the posts reads in part:

“I now have overwhelming evidence that Mr. David Aiyedogbon killed his wife, Chacha. David has an idea of the kind of evidence at my disposal.”

In another development, lawyer to Mr. Aiyedogbon, Tony Ogbulafor also dragged Mr. Ugwuonye to Court for what he also sees as a defamatory publication on the same Due Process Advocate against him.

Similarly, Ugwuonye is facing a case of injurious falsehood and false evidence before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse zone 2 area of Abuja, presided over by Chief Magistrate Mabel Bello.

He was first arraigned alongside two Abuja-based lawyers, Nsikak Udoh and Farouk Khamagam before the Chief Magistrate Court for their alleged criminal roles in the disappearance of missing Abuja woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.

Ugwuonye is charged with false evidence and injurious falsehood, contrary to sections: 158 and 393 of the Penal Code; while the other two lawyers were charged with criminal conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, giving false information with intent to mislead a public servant contrary to sections 97, 364, 179, and 178 of the Penal Code.

He was recently disbarred in Nigeria and his License to practice as a Lawyer revoked. Investigations revealed that he is presently being investigated in the United States over unethical practices, following a petition by one Oluchi Enaworu.

Destiny Ugorji/GEE

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Trouble: 3 lawyers docked over missing Charity Aiyedogbon

ITRealms:

Three legal practitioners, Emeka Ugwuonye, Nsikak Udo and Farouk Khamagam were on Thursday, arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 2, in Wuse zone 2 area of Abuja, presided over by chief Magistrate Mabel Bello, for their alleged criminal roles in the case of the disappearance of missing Abuja woman, Charity Aiyedogbon, reports ITRealms.

While disbarred Lagos lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye is charged with criminal defamation, the other two lawyers were charged for forgery and perjury.

Following their arraignment, the accused persons, through their lawyers applied for bail.

Opposing the bail application by Mr. Ugwuonye, the Prosecutor, Adama Musa described the accused as notorious, expressing fears that he may jump bail. He alleged that he is in the habit of not honouring invitations, adding that he has dual citizenship and may jump bail, if granted.

In his ruling, the chief Magistrate, Mabel Bello granted him bail in the sum of five million Naira (N5m), with a surety, who must be a Civil Servant and must earn not less than three hundred thousand Naira monthly, with a traceable address in the Federal capital territory.

The other two accused, Nsikak Udo and Farouk Khamagam were granted bail on self-recognition, being practicing lawyers, resident in the Federal capital territory.

Ugwuonye’s criminal defamation matter comes up on the 16^th of March, 2018, for hearing, while that of Nsikak Udo and Farouk Khamagam is adjourned to March 30, 2018.

It is not clear if Mr. Ugwuonye has fulfilled his bail conditions, as at the time of filing this report.

Ugwuonye, who had claimed to have an overwhelming evidence that the missing woman was dead, and that she was killed by her estranged husband, David Aiyedogbon, is expected to show evidence to the Court.

His trouble may have started when, in different posts on his Facebook group, Due Process Advocates- DPA, he said:

“I now have overwhelming evidence that Mr. David Aiyedogbon killed his wife, Chacha. David has an idea of the kind of evidence at my disposal.”

In another post, he said: “this is the headless and dismembered body of Charity Aiyedogbon (posting a corpse on his DPA Facebook group). DPA has been able to identify this as her body within the limits of resources at our disposal.”

“I will describe David as a low-life and cold-blooded murderer of his own wife. The only reason I would not go further to describe David in the most despicable language that he rightly deserves is that I would rather focus my argument on points that would lead to justice for Chacha.”

“…the issue is not whether Emeka’s account is accurate or not, but, rather, the issue is whether Emeka has evidence that would send David to the hangman. Yes, I do…”

When invited by the Police to produce evidence, after several meetings, Ugwuonye was unable to produce any, to substantiate his claims.

Ugwuonye is already facing a N10b defamation suit filed by Mr. David Aiyedogbon. The Suit, with number CV/2750/16, before Justice Peter Kekemeke of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 14, Apo Abuja, also prays that the defendant be ordered to pay the cost of the suit.

Similarly, the other two Abuja-based lawyers, Nsikak Udo and Farouk Khamagam, charged alongside Ugwuonye are said to have confessed in writing to the Police that they forged the signature of their missing client, Charity Aiyedogbon.

Their trouble started when, those believed to be close to the missing woman were quoted as saying that she went missing on the 9^th of May, 2016, but her lawyer, Barrister Nsikak Udo, handling a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Lokoja on 29^th April, 2016 against 29 respondents, including her biological children and former husband, David Aiyedogbon, claimed she (Charity) came to his house on the 18^th of May, 2016.

Following questions arising from the lawyer’s claim of meeting with the missing woman eight days after her purported disappearance, the Police invited him for questioning, wherein he allegedly confessed that her signature was forged.

Confirming the development, a Police source involved in the investigation, who spoke on the grounds of anonymity explained:

“Yes! We charged three of them to Court this morning. The offence of Nsikak Udo and Farouk Khamagam is forgery. In Nsikak’s statement to the Police, he confessed that he forged the signature of missing Charity Aiyedogbon in an affidavit he filed in court in Lokoja. He had earlier claimed that the missing woman came to him and one of his staff accompanied her to a High Court, to sign and depose to an affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion filed along with the case. The question was: how could someone who was declared missing on the 9^th of May reappear on the 18^th of May? Following a Petition, the Police investigated the matter. 

In Mr. Udo’s statement to the Police, he confessed to the crime. He therefore lied on oath. That is the problem. Farouk conspired with him to commit the crime. Ugwuonye’s case is that of criminal defamation. In spite of all the claims he made on his Facebook Group, the Due Process Advocate, when he was invited to produce evidence to help Police investigation, he could not produce any. We took him to Court so he can produce the evidence to substantiate his claims.”

In another development, counsel to David Aiyedogbon, Tony Ogbulafor, has filed a fresh defamation suit against embattled Emeka Ugwuonye in the Abuja judicial division.

Our Correspondent reports that Mr. Ogbulafor took advantage of Mr. Ugwuonye’s appearance in Court to serve him the court papers, since, according to him, all efforts to locate him for service earlier, proved abortive.

The matter comes up for hearing on Monday, 5th February, 2018.  

Destiny Ugorji/GEE

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Missing Charity Aiyedogbon: 63 groups petition IGP

ITRealms:

In continuation of its earlier call on the Police over the missing Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon, some 63 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Coalition Against Crime in Nigeria (CACN) have petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, urging him to take necessary steps to effect the arrest of a prime suspect in the matter, Paul Chukwujekwu Ezeugo, presently at large, reports ITRealms.

The petition dated 22-8-2016, captioned: Re-Missing Charity Aiyedogbon: pertinent issues; our demands, signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Harrison Pepple and made available to ITRealms, they called on the Police to conduct a DNA test on a body displayed on Facebook by Lagos lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye, to ascertain the veracity of his claim that it is that of the missing woman.  

The 2-page Petition made a six-point demand and reads in part: 

“Coalition against Crime in Nigeria is a Network of 63 Civil Society Organisations advocating against Crime, Immorality and other social vices in Nigeria.”

“We first write to commend you for your determination towards unravelling the mystery behind the sudden disappearance of an Abuja-based lady, Charity Aiyedogbon, aka Chacha, being handled by the Monitoring Unit of your office (IGPMU).”

“We are aware that the missing woman’s husband, David Aiyedogbon was directly accused by a Lagos-based lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye of having a hand in her disappearance. He also displayed a corpse on his Facebook group, Due Process Advocates, claiming that it was that of the missing woman, among others.”

“We are also aware that the missing woman’s daughter’s (Juliet) wedding was postponed indefinitely as a result of the controversy generated by misinformation fed to Nigerians by Ugwuonye’s claims over her missing mother.”

“We also have reports that some arrests have been made in connection with her disappearance, while her vehicle and two handsets have been recovered, among other developments.”

Continuing, the Petition urged the Police to address Nigerians on the extent of investigation, while officially declaring Charity Aiyedogbon missing. 

“We demand that you use your good offices to order an immediate conduct of a DNA test on the corpse displayed online by Lagos lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye to ascertain the true identity of the body; direct the Force Public Relations Officer to address Nigerians on the extent of investigation/findings on the matter and invoke relevant sections of the Police Act by declaring the prime suspect, Paul Chukwujekwu Ezeugo wanted, so Nigerians and the International Community will be on the lookout for him.”

Other demands by the group are that the Police “officially declare Charity Aiyedogbon (Chacha) missing; invite her extended family members (parents and 4 siblings) for questioning, following their continued silence on the matter of their missing daughter since May 10, 2016 and all those that have questions to answer (from your investigations) be charged to Court without further delay.”

ITRealms recalled that an Abuja-based business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon was declared missing on social media by her friends and her whereabouts remains a mystery that the Police is attempting to unravel.

 
Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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Pix: IGP Idris