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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EFCC docks three varsity students for Internet fraud

ITREALMS:

The Economic and Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC), has docked three university students for Internet fraud in Onitsha, Anambra State, reports ITRealms.

The arraignment, which ITRealms gathered took place on January 16, 2018 involved the trio of Precious Onyemaeme , Peter Avwaruroro and Nzekwe Chibuzo Colins before Justice Ike Agu of the State High Court, Onitsha on a cumulative 13- count charge of conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N841,000 (Eight Hundred and Forty One Naira).

ITRealms also gathered that the offence contravenes Section 342 of Criminal Code Law of Anambra State and punishable under Section 343 (i) of the same law.

The defendants, (one of whom was a staff of Moonwalker Connect Ltd, a franchise outlet of MTN, were final year students of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State) connived with others at large on April 18, 2017 in Onitsha by using some software originating from some Google sites to send phishing mails with the aim of scamming unsuspecting victims who innocently fill forms purportedly from their banks which they use in activating a transfer code on the scammer’s phone.

According to the petitioner whose names were withheld, reported to MTN about his phone which was tossed and they assured him it was to be rectified. He further alleged that it was later restored only for him to be called consistently by a private number who told him to put off his phone that he was being trailed and that it was during the course of this persistent call that he started receiving debit alert on his phone.

In addition, investigation revealed that Peter Avwaruroro, had used his knowledge of telecommunications to effect a “Welcomed Back Package” of the petitioner (victim) who was at Onitsha even while he was at Ugheli and used same to obtain the necessary information required to carry out the crime, just as the trio pleaded not guilty to the charge.

O.J Anagoba, I. Igbinigie and Azubuike Anazor representing first, second and third defendants respectively prayed the court to admit their clients to bail, which was not opposed by I. I Mbachie, the prosecuting counsel, who rather, urged the court to verify whomsoever would stand surety for the defendants.

The judge, thereafter, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N1million (One Million Naira) each with one surety in like sum who must also be a relative to the defendants and a resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

He further ordered the defendants to submit three years tax clearance of their tax certificate and both the defendants and their sureties must deposit two recent passports to the court.

The judge directed prosecution team to verify the home address of the defendants and surties before they are allowed to leave the custody of the Commission.

The case has been adjourned to April 26 for hearing.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Saraki, Ekweremadu docked: Nigeria's democracy on trial says Deputy Senate President

ITRealms:

The Deputy President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has described his trial alongside the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and two other senior members of the National Assembly (NASS) staff over an alleged forgery of document to facilitate their emergence of current leadership of the Red Chamber as democracy on trial, reports ITRealms.

Reacting after appearing and pleading not guilty amongst others, the deputy president of Senate said he presented myself to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday, June 27, 2016, as an ordinary citizen of this great nation to plead ‘not guilty’ to charges he did not and could not have committed.

As said by him in a press statement sighted by ITRealms, there is deeply troubling to note that people in high places who swore to uphold the law, have dwindled into purveyors of falsehood and rumours who seek to smear and tarnish the reputation of law abiding and responsible citizens as well as cripple the hallowed institutions of democracy.

“It is all the more disheartening that people who should know better use the colour of their office to pursue private vendetta against people they disagree with,” he said.

Ekweremadu said this grotesque display of vindictiveness, arrogance, and mindless targeting of innocent citizens should find no sanctuary in Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that using the machinery of justice to create disorder is a dangerous and invidious scheme that ultimately will lead Nigeria down the road to perdition.

“It is Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu today, who knows whose turn it will be next?,” he asked, wondering that as a law-abiding citizen and believer in the rule of law and all the rights and privileges it advertises, that its only in his place not to commit crime, but way out of his reach not to be accused of one, especially when instruments of power become apparatuses for oppression of the innocent and voices of opposition.

Senator Ekweremadu pointed out that he does not claim to be above the law, just that he believes that the law should not be used as an instrument to bludgeon innocent citizens into submitting to the untamed wishes and caprices of witch-hunters.

“However, I put my trust in God, the court, and the overwhelming solidarity of the good people of Nigeria. When the dust settles, Nigerians will see clearly that this charge is nothing but meretricious thrash. Time, occasions, and provocations like this will teach their own lessons. I hope that one chief lesson will be that democracy differs markedly from military rule and that public officer should never subvert the foundations of democracy by prioritizing the rule of man over the rule of law,” he said.

The Deputy Senate President warned that Nigerias that to make no mistake about this trail, because it is not Senator Ike Ekweremadu or Senator Bukola Saraki or the other accused persons that are on trial; rather the hallowed democratic principles of separation of powers, rule of law, the legislature, and indeed democracy itself are on a ridiculous trial.

Mere anarchy is unleashed upon the land, but our courage must not fall apart. No condition is permanent and nothing lasts forever.

“For me, I find great comfort in the immortal words of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who said that history will vindicate the just and the wicked will not go unpunished,” Ekweremadu said.

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Pix: Senate Deputy President, Ekweremadu