Court jails ex-Union Bank Director Emmanuel Nwude, two lawyers

A Special Offences Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced Emmanuel Nwude, a former director of Union Bank of Nigeria, and two lawyers to one year imprisonment each over forgery and illegal dealings in forfeited property.

The two lawyers convicted alongside him are Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Rowland Kalu.

Justice Mojisola Dada delivered the judgment on Wednesday after years of trial, according to a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The case dates back to March 2, 2018, when the trio was arraigned on an amended 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, uttering false documents, dealing in forfeited property, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and fabricating evidence.

According to the EFCC, the defendants between 2011 and 2012 attempted to engage in business transactions involving a property located at Plot Y, Mobolaji Johnson Street, Oregun, Ikeja, without authorisation.

Prosecutors said the defendants were aware that the property had already been forfeited to victims of crime as restitution following a court judgment delivered on November 18, 2005, in an earlier case involving Nwude and others.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Nnaemeka Omewa, called five witnesses and tendered several documents admitted as evidence by the court.

After the prosecution closed its case in March 2019, the defendants filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against them.

However, the court dismissed the application and directed them to open their defence.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Nwude approached the Court of Appeal, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal and ordered him to return to the trial court to continue his defence.

Nwude eventually opened his defence in February 2021, testified on his own behalf, and called three witnesses before closing his case.

His co-defendants, Ilechukwu and Kalu, also testified before the court and closed their defence in February 2025.

After hearing final written addresses from both parties, Justice Dada found the defendants guilty on several counts including conspiracy, forgery and dealing in forfeited property.

The court, however, acquitted them on two counts relating to making false statements to a public officer.

Following the conviction, the judge sentenced each of the three defendants to one year imprisonment.

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