U.S court orders U.S-based lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye, to refund “stolen” N234Million to Nigeria
Emeka Ugwuonye, a U.S.-based Nigerian lawyer, resident in the state of Maryland, was a big loser today at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia which entered a default judgment against his law firm, ECU Associates, ordering it to refund the controversial $1.55 million belonging to the Nigerian government.
The court entered the judgment after the firm failed to defend the case “despite multiple opportunities to do so”.
In a judgment Tuesday, Judge Barbara J. Rothstein, granted the Nigerian embassy’s prayers that Mr. Ugwuonye’s firm be made to refund $1.55million it stole from the Nigerian government.
The court also asked the embassy to provide sufficient information that would enable it to determine, against Mr. Ugwuonye’s firm, an appropriate damages amount for pre- and post-judgment interest on the money, punitive damages and costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Read more
