Court jails ex-Union Bank director, two lawyers over forgery

A Special Offences Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced a former director of Union Bank of Nigeria, Emmanuel Nwude, alongside two legal practitioners, Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Rowland Kalu, to one year imprisonment each for offences bordering on forgery and unlawful dealing in forfeited property.

The judgment, delivered after the court found the trio guilty of multiple charges, marks a significant development in the long-running legal battle over the handling of assets previously forfeited to the Federal Government.

According to court proceedings, the convicts were accused of conspiring to forge documents and fraudulently facilitate transactions involving property that had been legally seized and placed under government control. Prosecutors told the court that the actions of the defendants undermined judicial orders and attempted to circumvent due process in the disposal and management of forfeited assets.

During the trial, the prosecution presented documentary evidence and witness testimonies to establish that the accused persons knowingly engaged in the unlawful transfer and negotiation of interests tied to the said property. The court held that their conduct amounted to a deliberate attempt to benefit from assets that were not legally available for private dealings.

In his ruling, the trial judge emphasised the need to uphold the integrity of court orders and protect public assets from fraudulent manipulation. He noted that professionals, particularly legal practitioners and financial experts, have a duty to maintain high ethical standards and should not be found complicit in acts capable of eroding public trust in the justice system.

While delivering the sentence, the court also warned that offences involving forgery and interference with forfeited assets would continue to attract strict penalties in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

Legal observers say the conviction reinforces ongoing efforts by anti-corruption authorities and the judiciary to ensure accountability in financial and legal transactions involving public property.

Counsel to the convicts indicated that they were studying the judgment and may consider legal options, including the possibility of an appeal.

The case adds to a series of prosecutions linked to the controversial dealings of Emmanuel Nwude, whose past financial fraud cases have remained one of the most prominent in Nigeria’s banking history.