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Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) - Politics (4) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) (35349 Views)

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Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by Fumbaby: 11:42am On Jan 14, 2016
Was he the 1st to criticise buhari govt? If truly he was arrested they won't allow him to post on social media (ask metuh to confirm it) he said he is a world bank lawyer so I expect him to know his right, why is it that post is not on his facebook page?
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by okenikpoto(m): 11:42am On Jan 14, 2016
onojaduru:
Used to be a member of his FB group.He dealt with GEJ with many of his writeups



This Emeka Ugwuonye guy is a little controversial and as he has come into the glasshouse he shouldn't throw stones.


Here are why:


http://saharareporters.com/2015/06/02/us-court-dismisses-rogue-attorney-emeka-ugwuonye%E2%80%99s-bankruptcy-filing



http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/141014-nigeria-floors-u-s-based-lawyer-emeka-ugwuonye-who-stole-1-55million-embassy-funds.html


http://newsexpressngr.com/news/subcategory.php?scid=55&ncid=4
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by kennycalls(m): 11:42am On Jan 14, 2016
Stfu there! your just another biafraudian causing commotion in the diaspora
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by ayindejimmy(m): 11:46am On Jan 14, 2016
So wit d spate of fake news online, i'm suppose to biliv this- from a blog?!
If he's important, hw come we'v nt read abt him
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by PASCHAL28: 11:49am On Jan 14, 2016
The Man is no longer a practicing Lawyer in the USA. Check your facts very well. This is the lat incident in court that happened.
Last Friday, Nigeria achieved a significant milestone in its war against corruption and looting of public funds.

But the war and the victory were on foreign soil in faraway Washington DC, where United States District Court Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein announced a default judgement against Emeka Ugwuonye in a case that has lasted over five years.

The judge found Mr. Ugwuonye liable on all claims made by the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, and awarded the Embassy monetary damages in excess of $2 million.

Mr. Ugwuonye’s troubles in the United States with the Embassy, his former client, concern diversion of $1.55 million proceeds of tax refunds in a real estate transaction in Washington DC he undertook for the Embassy.

Mr. Ugwuonye, who practiced law in the State of Maryland, has proved to be a bad lawyer, but perhaps an even worse gambler or mathematician who chose the risk of a $1.55 million check in exchange for monetary damages that could rise to $6.2million. He also stands to lose his professional licence and even personal liberty.

In the five years in which Mr. Ugwuonye has been defendant rather than counsel in a State of Maryland courtroom, he has suffered loss after loss, including even the very companies he used in the real estate transaction on behalf of the embassy, for failure to pay property taxes.

He has forfeited, at least twice, ECU Associates PC, the firm he used in some of the real estate transactions. Originally incorporated in July 1999, the firm was forfeited in October 2006, following which Mr. Ugwuonye incorporated ECU Law PC with the State of Maryland between January and March 2007.
Between April and June 2007, Mr. Ugwuonye somehow revived ECU Associates PC to receive money from the Nigerian Embassy for shady real estate deals, but he would eventually forfeit the company to the State of Maryland, like ECU Law PC.

In October 2009, Mr. Ugwonye sued various Nigerian citizens and reporters who questioned his sale of the properties and handling of the tax refunds. He lost all those cases.

He has also remained suspended from practicing law in Washington DC and New York jurisdictions after the state of Maryland suspended him for mishandling cases involving some of his clients.

Filing a motion for default judgement on May 23, the Embassy asked the judge to compel Mr. Ugwuonye and his firm to pay $6.2 million in restitution and additional costs, as follows:

· $1.55 million in base compensatory damages;

· Prejudgment interest on the tax refund in the amount of 6% per annum commencing on November 20, 2007;

· Punitive damages in an amount equal to two times the total compensatory damages, inclusive of prejudgment interest;

· Post-judgment interest in accordance with 28U.S.C. § 1961; and

· Such other relief as the court may deem just and proper.

Evidence presented to demonstrate the scope and severity of Mr. Ugwuonye’s fraud in the matter and his contempt of the Court’s procedures and orders included documents showing that he recovered the tax refund on the Embassy’s behalf, lied to the Embassy concerning the whereabouts of the funds, and proceeded to use the funds for his personal benefit.

But as had been the pattern, Mr. Ugwuonye was absent at the hearing, having filed a 3:00 a.m. motion requesting an indefinite continuance of the case
“He did this clearly fearing vigorous questioning and simply failed to appear, in the process further exasperating the court,” said a lawyer for the Embassy who noted that Mr. Ugwuonye’s absence was particularly glaring in light of the court’s scheduling order which cautioned him not only to be present, but also prepared to respond to [the] Plaintiff’s allegations.”

The lawyer recalled Mr. Ugwuonye’s flouting of discovery deadlines; court deadlines to file motions and oppositions to motions; failure to produce documents and information in discovery; violating a court order compelling discovery, and failing to appear at his duly noticed deposition, all of them held as evidence of obvious disrespect for the U.S. justice system.

In her judgement, Judge Rothstein announced her intention to award the Embassy $1.55 million in compensatory damages, pre-judgment interest at a rate of 6% per annum, post-judgment interest, and certain categories of attorneys’ fees and costs, bringing compensatory damages and pre-judgment interest alone, as of that day—July 12, 2013—to $2,075,131.30.

The judge will issue a written order over the next few weeks summarizing her findings and specifying the full scope of damages she is awarding. She has already indicated that she will seriously consider the Embassy’s request for punitive damages.

A lawyer familiar with the case said, “An award of punitive damages in the context of default judgment is highly unusual in the U.S. legal system when the parties have not directly litigated the merits of the case.

“Nonetheless, Judge Rothstein agreed to consider a punitive damages award due to the extraordinary nature of the matter. Specifically, she expressed concern that the Embassy’s views of the U.S. legal profession had been tarnished by Mr. Ugwuonye’s outrageous misconduct.”

Beyond all that, it is noteworthy that Judge Rothstein urged the parties to pursue the bar complaint the Embassy has filed against Mr. Ugwuonye in the State of Maryland, another highly unusual step on the part of the judge, but reflecting the severity of Mr. Ugwuonye’s professional fall.

The irony however, is that while Mr. Ugwuonye is being made to pay back what he stole from Nigeria in far away America, he has tactically relocated to Nigeria where he is rebranding himself as an “anti-corruption crusader”.

In Nigeria where Mr. Ugwuonye is facing several other criminal charges, he continues to thumb his nose at the justice system, with perhaps a solid understanding that the justice system is weak and slow.
In the Senate, the committee investigating how the Embassy of Nigeria came to sell off many properties in the Maryland area in the first place and the propriety of the sale of those real estate holdings has treated Mr. Ugwuonye like a star, even allowing him get away with a petition in which he sought to turn his accusers and victims into criminals
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by wiseoneking: 11:51am On Jan 14, 2016
knightsTempler:
To tell the truth, I am engulfed in roaring flames of tremendous anguish and laden with sorrow. Allow me to say that the joy I should naturally feel for such a potent victory awarded to buhari is destroyed by fear of what it MAY cost us. Buhari's disguise is so perfect and complete, expertly masking his nefarious schemes and personal ambitions, professing change in the most appealing language and manner that we treat his ambition with incredulous complacence. A man who, in the past, perfidiously isolated freedom of speech from the people, encouraged fanaticism, held bigoted views on religion and ethnicity, and voiced malicious profanity of the worst degree with his words clearly purporting violence. People criticized GEJ openly in all ramifications, even mocked the first lady without known repercussions. This time, you may have to learn how to cage your tongues and present proper civility. It is said that a child can play with its mother's breasts but not with the father's testicles. Beyond the usual rhetoric on good governance, discipline and his appeal to base sentiments, buhari has usually been hypocritical. Some people raving mad about the new-fangled parlance "CHANGE" are just products of the 90s. They haven't the minutest idea the specie of cobra on transit to the seat of presidency. Never mistake the glaring teeth of a chimpanzee for a smile. Nevertheless, we pray for the best. I'll only find myself disappointed with this nation when the same people who, today, are bellowing "CHANGE HAS COME" are found tomorrow in despairing opposition to what they once embraced with epileptic lunacy and blinding sentimentality.
intelligent submission unlike illiterate infested write ups all over here. Thanks.

1 Like

Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by macaranta(m): 11:52am On Jan 14, 2016
This is not a good sign.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by chiefobdk(m): 11:56am On Jan 14, 2016
PASCHAL28:
The Man is no longer a practicing Lawyer in the USA. Check your facts very well. This is the lat incident in court that happened.
Last Friday, Nigeria achieved a significant milestone in its war against corruption and looting of public funds.

But the war and the victory were on foreign soil in faraway Washington DC, where United States District Court Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein announced a default judgement against Emeka Ugwuonye in a case that has lasted over five years.

The judge found Mr. Ugwuonye liable on all claims made by the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, and awarded the Embassy monetary damages in excess of $2 million.

Mr. Ugwuonye’s troubles in the United States with the Embassy, his former client, concern diversion of $1.55 million proceeds of tax refunds in a real estate transaction in Washington DC he undertook for the Embassy.

Mr. Ugwuonye, who practiced law in the State of Maryland, has proved to be a bad lawyer, but perhaps an even worse gambler or mathematician who chose the risk of a $1.55 million check in exchange for monetary damages that could rise to $6.2million. He also stands to lose his professional licence and even personal liberty.

In the five years in which Mr. Ugwuonye has been defendant rather than counsel in a State of Maryland courtroom, he has suffered loss after loss, including even the very companies he used in the real estate transaction on behalf of the embassy, for failure to pay property taxes.

He has forfeited, at least twice, ECU Associates PC, the firm he used in some of the real estate transactions. Originally incorporated in July 1999, the firm was forfeited in October 2006, following which Mr. Ugwuonye incorporated ECU Law PC with the State of Maryland between January and March 2007.
Between April and June 2007, Mr. Ugwuonye somehow revived ECU Associates PC to receive money from the Nigerian Embassy for shady real estate deals, but he would eventually forfeit the company to the State of Maryland, like ECU Law PC.

In October 2009, Mr. Ugwonye sued various Nigerian citizens and reporters who questioned his sale of the properties and handling of the tax refunds. He lost all those cases.

He has also remained suspended from practicing law in Washington DC and New York jurisdictions after the state of Maryland suspended him for mishandling cases involving some of his clients.

Filing a motion for default judgement on May 23, the Embassy asked the judge to compel Mr. Ugwuonye and his firm to pay $6.2 million in restitution and additional costs, as follows:

· $1.55 million in base compensatory damages;

· Prejudgment interest on the tax refund in the amount of 6% per annum commencing on November 20, 2007;

· Punitive damages in an amount equal to two times the total compensatory damages, inclusive of prejudgment interest;

· Post-judgment interest in accordance with 28U.S.C. § 1961; and

· Such other relief as the court may deem just and proper.

Evidence presented to demonstrate the scope and severity of Mr. Ugwuonye’s fraud in the matter and his contempt of the Court’s procedures and orders included documents showing that he recovered the tax refund on the Embassy’s behalf, lied to the Embassy concerning the whereabouts of the funds, and proceeded to use the funds for his personal benefit.

But as had been the pattern, Mr. Ugwuonye was absent at the hearing, having filed a 3:00 a.m. motion requesting an indefinite continuance of the case
“He did this clearly fearing vigorous questioning and simply failed to appear, in the process further exasperating the court,” said a lawyer for the Embassy who noted that Mr. Ugwuonye’s absence was particularly glaring in light of the court’s scheduling order which cautioned him not only to be present, but also prepared to respond to [the] Plaintiff’s allegations.”

The lawyer recalled Mr. Ugwuonye’s flouting of discovery deadlines; court deadlines to file motions and oppositions to motions; failure to produce documents and information in discovery; violating a court order compelling discovery, and failing to appear at his duly noticed deposition, all of them held as evidence of obvious disrespect for the U.S. justice system.

In her judgement, Judge Rothstein announced her intention to award the Embassy $1.55 million in compensatory damages, pre-judgment interest at a rate of 6% per annum, post-judgment interest, and certain categories of attorneys’ fees and costs, bringing compensatory damages and pre-judgment interest alone, as of that day—July 12, 2013—to $2,075,131.30.

The judge will issue a written order over the next few weeks summarizing her findings and specifying the full scope of damages she is awarding. She has already indicated that she will seriously consider the Embassy’s request for punitive damages.

A lawyer familiar with the case said, “An award of punitive damages in the context of default judgment is highly unusual in the U.S. legal system when the parties have not directly litigated the merits of the case.

“Nonetheless, Judge Rothstein agreed to consider a punitive damages award due to the extraordinary nature of the matter. Specifically, she expressed concern that the Embassy’s views of the U.S. legal profession had been tarnished by Mr. Ugwuonye’s outrageous misconduct.”

Beyond all that, it is noteworthy that Judge Rothstein urged the parties to pursue the bar complaint the Embassy has filed against Mr. Ugwuonye in the State of Maryland, another highly unusual step on the part of the judge, but reflecting the severity of Mr. Ugwuonye’s professional fall.

The irony however, is that while Mr. Ugwuonye is being made to pay back what he stole from Nigeria in far away America, he has tactically relocated to Nigeria where he is rebranding himself as an “anti-corruption crusader”.

In Nigeria where Mr. Ugwuonye is facing several other criminal charges, he continues to thumb his nose at the justice system, with perhaps a solid understanding that the justice system is weak and slow.
In the Senate, the committee investigating how the Embassy of Nigeria came to sell off many properties in the Maryland area in the first place and the propriety of the sale of those real estate holdings has treated Mr. Ugwuonye like a star, even allowing him get away with a petition in which he sought to turn his accusers and victims into criminals




no link?

're u d source
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by chiefobdk(m): 11:57am On Jan 14, 2016
toluine56:
Foolish guy.
Please read
http://saharareporters.com/2015/06/02/us-court-dismisses-rogue-attorney-emeka-ugwuonye’s-bankruptcy-filing


this is d link u provided.

Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by ghostmist: 12:01pm On Jan 14, 2016
falseman:
very good for Emeka. I was a member of his FB page and I can vividly remember how he castigated past Government and preached so bad about everything they did....face it and it found guilty make he dance in kirikiri.

Look I'm not angry because he fought against Jonathan but because he doesn't know the limit to freedom of speech and his disregard for the office of the president is alarming.
Oga shut up!

so he should go to jail for speaking his mind abi?
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by anticabal1: 12:04pm On Jan 14, 2016
MadCow1:
Another accomplice of that Vagabond pig Nnamdi Kanu..




I wonder why they have not shot him in the hip sef. angry




Death to all Enemies of Nigeria's unity.

See gbege o. Unity na by force
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by Nobody: 12:10pm On Jan 14, 2016
are you that important? maybe you are a threat to national security. how come you get time to update this?
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by zendy: 12:18pm On Jan 14, 2016
Jamie1:
Is criticism a crime now?


To the APC Government, it is.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by Janelle07(f): 12:23pm On Jan 14, 2016
labbyboi:




You don exhaust the whole vocabulary for dictionary just to make almost No point... Happy landing ehn.
. You don finish this guy

1 Like

Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by zendy: 12:24pm On Jan 14, 2016
InvertedHammer:

/
Emeka Ugwuonye has been having problems with FGN for years. It culminated in the sack of Farida Waziri as the EFCC chairperson after late Ambassador Adefuye connived (through a letter evidence) with her to have Emeka detained in Nigeria for months.

The issue is about $1.5m due to the Nigerian Embassy, that Emeka confiscated because he claimed that FGN owed him the money for services he rendered defending ex-Head of State Gen. Abubakar in the US court. It is a very complicated case.

I believe the main problem was that some interested parties wanted some share of the money but Emeka refused to part with a dime. And they went for his jugular. The case is very complicated else Emeka would have been in jail for tampering with IRS tax refund. There are too many missing links in the whole story. One thing that is certain is that Emeka is very troublesome and showy.
/

One thing I agree with is that is that the U.S. don't take too kindly to tax fraud. If this Emeka had committed tax fraud in the US to the tune $1.5 million, he would have been sitting in an American jail by now not to talk of traveling to Nigeria from the US.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by don4real18(m): 12:25pm On Jan 14, 2016
It is done everywhere in the world... Insult the American government and travel there and see if you will even have time to tweet
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by plaetton: 12:27pm On Jan 14, 2016
vedaxcool:
Foolish fellow soon drug barons will claim they were arrested because they criticize the govt.

Senseless post, as usually expected from you.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by plaetton: 12:31pm On Jan 14, 2016
san316:
Better people talk, Dem no arrest them. Na this nonentity dss go waste time on?

By the way, how come he has access to his phone? Because for all I know, when dss arrest someone, they seize their belongings especially phones.

The mumu is inviting dss and he'll see them.

Who is the mumu who cannot comprehend properly?

He was not arrested. He has just been flagged for questioning and possible detention.
That is what he is communicating to his online friends.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by jascon1(m): 12:31pm On Jan 14, 2016
in all you said, I will want to encapsulate it as sentimentality. Buhari never ordered his arrest. Buhari might not have ever heard of him or his write-ups. DSS operatives are simply carrying out their usual task. He's not and will never be a threat to Buhari. Don't put the blame on Buhari yet. Until it gets to the presidency before you judge. Is obvious that you don't like Buhari.
knightsTempler:
To tell the truth, I am engulfed in roaring flames of tremendous anguish and laden with sorrow. Allow me to say that the joy I should naturally feel for such a potent victory awarded to buhari is destroyed by fear of what it MAY cost us. Buhari's disguise is so perfect and complete, expertly masking his nefarious schemes and personal ambitions, professing change in the most appealing language and manner that we treat his ambition with incredulous complacence. A man who, in the past, perfidiously isolated freedom of speech from the people, encouraged fanaticism, held bigoted views on religion and ethnicity, and voiced malicious profanity of the worst degree with his words clearly purporting violence. People criticized GEJ openly in all ramifications, even mocked the first lady without known repercussions. This time, you may have to learn how to cage your tongues and present proper civility. It is said that a child can play with its mother's breasts but not with the father's testicles. Beyond the usual rhetoric on good governance, discipline and his appeal to base sentiments, buhari has usually been hypocritical. Some people raving mad about the new-fangled parlance "CHANGE" are just products of the 90s. They haven't the minutest idea the specie of cobra on transit to the seat of presidency. Never mistake the glaring teeth of a chimpanzee for a smile. Nevertheless, we pray for the best. I'll only find myself disappointed with this nation when the same people who, today, are bellowing "CHANGE HAS COME" are found tomorrow in despairing opposition to what they once embraced with epileptic lunacy and blinding sentimentality.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by Walexsammy(m): 12:35pm On Jan 14, 2016
falseman:
very good for Emeka. I was a member of his FB page and I can vividly remember how he castigated past Government and preached so bad about everything they did....face it and it found guilty make he dance in kirikiri.

Look I'm not angry because he fought against Jonathan but because he doesn't know the limit to freedom of speech and his disregard for the office of the president is alarming.
don mind some of these fools, they'll be castigating the government and the country within their comfort zone overseas,trying to cause havoc in this great country of ours forgeting they'll still come around........i wonder why they can't relocate back here and perfect their criticism...mtcheww....Dss arrested u and ure still able to access ur social app....mumu
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by nobsalis: 12:36pm On Jan 14, 2016
Emekamex:
So does Buhari's government want us to praise him blindly for every good or bad decision he takes? I seriously don't get this government, most especially those sycophants supporting this clear case of dictatorship.
and DSS allow u post handout Abeg upgrade ur lyin skills
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by plaetton: 12:36pm On Jan 14, 2016
falseman:
very good for Emeka. I was a member of his FB page and I can vividly remember how he castigated past Government and preached so bad about everything they did....face it and it found guilty make he dance in kirikiri.

Look I'm not angry because he fought against Jonathan but because he doesn't know the limit to freedom of speech and his disregard for the office of the president is alarming.
Oh shut up, mor.on.

So in your perverted universe, someone should be in kirikiri for castigating the president ?

No wonder, Nigerians are the most docile, cowardly people in the planet.
No wonder one moronic leader after another fuxx you all in the axss with greater impunity every election cycle.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by buchilino(m): 12:37pm On Jan 14, 2016
Jamie1:
Is criticism a crime now?

GOOD QUESTION, SO FAR IT IS NOW
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by plaetton: 12:40pm On Jan 14, 2016
falseman:


You don't know that Emeka if you do you surely won't ask that. He doesn't criticize he disrespects the office of the president.

There is this court case he had in US back then that made him lose millions of dollars. Jonathan's government played a role in nailing him and from his side of the story he felt he was framed up by Nigerian Government in retaliation he is on the castigating side and never saw anything good during Jonathan's tenure, he highly campaigned for Buhari thinking things will get better for him once he takes over.

sadly things didn't change to his favor and he's back to castigating every action of the Government. Believe me he's a hater as far as the government is involved.
The only good thing about him is fighting for the poor I mean he can represent the poor man on the street if he feels there's injustice against them. He's a lawyer btw.

You still don't make any sense.
I take it that you're the type that stands for nothing, see no evil, hear no evil.

Obviously, this dude in question is made of much sterner stuff,..the type of stuff that history remembers.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by swezenberg(m): 12:41pm On Jan 14, 2016
The guy looks like another drug Lord jor. Who e wan sell this his story to
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by toluine56(m): 12:46pm On Jan 14, 2016
chiefobdk:



this is d link u provided.
Please copy and paste the link.
Dont click directly.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by plaetton: 12:46pm On Jan 14, 2016
MadCow1:
Another accomplice of that Vagabond pig Nnamdi Kanu..




I wonder why they have not shot him in the hip sef. angry




Death to all Enemies of Nigeria's unity.

Actually, it is the vultures and and hyenas that parasite on the Nigerian blood that has been the threat to genuine unity since 1960.

Falsehood, pretense and deceit are the real threats to Nigeria's unity.
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by Maximeo(m): 12:52pm On Jan 14, 2016
PASCHAL28:
The Man is no longer a practicing Lawyer in the USA. Check your facts very well. This is the lat incident in court that happened.
Last Friday, Nigeria achieved a significant milestone in its war against corruption and looting of public funds.

But the war and the victory were on foreign soil in faraway Washington DC, where United States District Court Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein announced a default judgement against Emeka Ugwuonye in a case that has lasted over five years.

The judge found Mr. Ugwuonye liable on all claims made by the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, and awarded the Embassy monetary damages in excess of $2 million.

Mr. Ugwuonye’s troubles in the United States with the Embassy, his former client, concern diversion of $1.55 million proceeds of tax refunds in a real estate transaction in Washington DC he undertook for the Embassy.

Mr. Ugwuonye, who practiced law in the State of Maryland, has proved to be a bad lawyer, but perhaps an even worse gambler or mathematician who chose the risk of a $1.55 million check in exchange for monetary damages that could rise to $6.2million. He also stands to lose his professional licence and even personal liberty.

In the five years in which Mr. Ugwuonye has been defendant rather than counsel in a State of Maryland courtroom, he has suffered loss after loss, including even the very companies he used in the real estate transaction on behalf of the embassy, for failure to pay property taxes.

He has forfeited, at least twice, ECU Associates PC, the firm he used in some of the real estate transactions. Originally incorporated in July 1999, the firm was forfeited in October 2006, following which Mr. Ugwuonye incorporated ECU Law PC with the State of Maryland between January and March 2007.
Between April and June 2007, Mr. Ugwuonye somehow revived ECU Associates PC to receive money from the Nigerian Embassy for shady real estate deals, but he would eventually forfeit the company to the State of Maryland, like ECU Law PC.

In October 2009, Mr. Ugwonye sued various Nigerian citizens and reporters who questioned his sale of the properties and handling of the tax refunds. He lost all those cases.

He has also remained suspended from practicing law in Washington DC and New York jurisdictions after the state of Maryland suspended him for mishandling cases involving some of his clients.

Filing a motion for default judgement on May 23, the Embassy asked the judge to compel Mr. Ugwuonye and his firm to pay $6.2 million in restitution and additional costs, as follows:

· $1.55 million in base compensatory damages;

· Prejudgment interest on the tax refund in the amount of 6% per annum commencing on November 20, 2007;

· Punitive damages in an amount equal to two times the total compensatory damages, inclusive of prejudgment interest;

· Post-judgment interest in accordance with 28U.S.C. § 1961; and

· Such other relief as the court may deem just and proper.

Evidence presented to demonstrate the scope and severity of Mr. Ugwuonye’s fraud in the matter and his contempt of the Court’s procedures and orders included documents showing that he recovered the tax refund on the Embassy’s behalf, lied to the Embassy concerning the whereabouts of the funds, and proceeded to use the funds for his personal benefit.

But as had been the pattern, Mr. Ugwuonye was absent at the hearing, having filed a 3:00 a.m. motion requesting an indefinite continuance of the case
“He did this clearly fearing vigorous questioning and simply failed to appear, in the process further exasperating the court,” said a lawyer for the Embassy who noted that Mr. Ugwuonye’s absence was particularly glaring in light of the court’s scheduling order which cautioned him not only to be present, but also prepared to respond to [the] Plaintiff’s allegations.”

The lawyer recalled Mr. Ugwuonye’s flouting of discovery deadlines; court deadlines to file motions and oppositions to motions; failure to produce documents and information in discovery; violating a court order compelling discovery, and failing to appear at his duly noticed deposition, all of them held as evidence of obvious disrespect for the U.S. justice system.

In her judgement, Judge Rothstein announced her intention to award the Embassy $1.55 million in compensatory damages, pre-judgment interest at a rate of 6% per annum, post-judgment interest, and certain categories of attorneys’ fees and costs, bringing compensatory damages and pre-judgment interest alone, as of that day—July 12, 2013—to $2,075,131.30.

The judge will issue a written order over the next few weeks summarizing her findings and specifying the full scope of damages she is awarding. She has already indicated that she will seriously consider the Embassy’s request for punitive damages.

A lawyer familiar with the case said, “An award of punitive damages in the context of default judgment is highly unusual in the U.S. legal system when the parties have not directly litigated the merits of the case.

“Nonetheless, Judge Rothstein agreed to consider a punitive damages award due to the extraordinary nature of the matter. Specifically, she expressed concern that the Embassy’s views of the U.S. legal profession had been tarnished by Mr. Ugwuonye’s outrageous misconduct.”

Beyond all that, it is noteworthy that Judge Rothstein urged the parties to pursue the bar complaint the Embassy has filed against Mr. Ugwuonye in the State of Maryland, another highly unusual step on the part of the judge, but reflecting the severity of Mr. Ugwuonye’s professional fall.

The irony however, is that while Mr. Ugwuonye is being made to pay back what he stole from Nigeria in far away America, he has tactically relocated to Nigeria where he is rebranding himself as an “anti-corruption crusader”.

In Nigeria where Mr. Ugwuonye is facing several other criminal charges, he continues to thumb his nose at the justice system, with perhaps a solid understanding that the justice system is weak and slow.
In the Senate, the committee investigating how the Embassy of Nigeria came to sell off many properties in the Maryland area in the first place and the propriety of the sale of those real estate holdings has treated Mr. Ugwuonye like a star, even allowing him get away with a petition in which he sought to turn his accusers and victims into criminals





http://newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=2817
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by Maximeo(m): 12:54pm On Jan 14, 2016
All bloggers should click link below and read:

http://newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=2817
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by rebranded(m): 1:09pm On Jan 14, 2016
Ofcourse this is biafra related
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by ubah84(m): 1:21pm On Jan 14, 2016
drug Barron was arrested period
Re: Man From US Claims DSS Picked Him Up For Questioning (pics) by vedaxcool(m): 1:23pm On Jan 14, 2016
[s]
plaetton:


Senseless post, as usually expected from you.
[/s]

Platelet how are you doing

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