Fraud: EFCC arraigns US-based Nigerian attorney

Posted by admin Headlines Monday, March 21st, 2011

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commisson on Monday arraigned a U.S-based Nigerian Attorney, Mr. Emeka Egwuonye, at an Abuja High Court on a one-count charge of corruption.

Egwuonye was charged with illegally withholding $1.35m tax refunds from the sale of some Nigerian properties in the U.S.

Reading the charges before Justice Suleiman Belgore, the EFCC accused Egwuonye of not remitting the said amount, which he claimed was used to pay tax on the properties.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Festus Keyamo, however, said investigations carried out by the commission revealed that diplomatic missions in the U.S did not pay tax.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Counsel to the accused, Mr. Michael Ugwuanyi, prayed the court to grant his client bail.

Ugwuanyi told the court that the accused had filed another suit before Justice Salisu Garba at another Abuja High Court.

He said the suit was for an order declaring that his detention by the EFCC and the State Security Service since February 12 was “unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.”

He told the court that Garba had on March 17, granted his client’s prayers.

Ugwuanyi argued that the continued detention of his client by operatives of the EFCC was a violation of his right to freedom of movement as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

He said the judge had also ordered the EFCC and the SSS to unconditionally release his client from their custody, pending the determination of the suit.

Belgore, however, refused to grant the accused person bail and ordered that he should be detained by the EFCC.

He adjourned the case to March 30.

-Punchwp_posts