The Police on Thursday arraigned a popular US-based Nigerian lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye, in a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court for allegedly giving false information to the police.
Ugwuonye of Victoria Island, Lagos State was docked on charges of false evidence and injurious falsehood, offences which he pleaded not guilty to.
The prosecutor, Adama Musa, told the court that Ugwuonye accused one David Aiyedogbon of murdering his wife, Charity, who disappeared in 2016.
Musa told the court that Juliet, the daugther of David and Charity Aiyedogbon of Gwarinpa, Abuja, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja on May 27, 2016.
Musa said the matter was transferred to the Commissioner of Police, FCT command.
He said the offence contravened Sections 158 and 393 of the Penal Code.
The defence counsel, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, prayed the court to grant bail to his client, assuring the court that reliable sureties would be provided if bail is granted.
In his arguments against the bail application, Musa said bail is not allowed for the offences.
The prosecutor, told the court that the accused was an American citizen and may jump bail.
Musa said he defendant was given administrative bail in 2016 when the case commenced, but jumped bail.
He also told the court that it took the arrest of the defendant’s surety for him to be rearrested in 2018.
He, therefore urged the court to deny the defendant bail for his trial to commence.
Musa said the defendant was formerly based in the US practicing law before he was allegedly delisted in Maryland, US and Nigeria for misconduct.
Magistrate Mabel Bello, in her ruling, granted the accused bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
Bello ordered that the surety must earn a monthly income of N300,000 and provide a home and office addresses, which must be verified by the prosecutor.
She adjourned the matter until March 16 for hearing.
