Emeka Ugwounye Arraigned……. Denied Bail

Huhuonline.com understands that Ephraim Emeka Ugwounye, a United States based Lawyer, was today arraigned by   the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Ugwounye, who was detained by the antigraft agency three weeks ago, was brought before Justice Suleiman Belgore of FCT High Court on a one count charge of defrauding the Federal Government of Nigeria of One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand  Dollars.

  The One Count charge reads "That you Ephraim Emeka Ugwounye, M sometimes between December 2007 and March 2011 at various places including Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being entrusted with the sum of $1,550,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars) property of the Federal Government of Nigeria, dishonestly converted to your own use the said entire sum of $1,550,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars) in violation of the agreement between you and the Federal Government of Nigeria through its Embassy in the United States and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 312 of the penal code Act , Cap.532, Laws of the Federation of (Abuja) 1990".

  According to a statement issued by EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Counsel to the accused, N. J Edechime, applied for bail for his client, arguing that the offense the accused is being prosecuted is bail able.

  But counsel to EFCC, Festus Keyamo, faulted the oral bail application made by the accused's counsel and urged the court to remand the accused in EFCC custody pending the commencement of trial.

 
In his ruling, Justice Belgore denied Emeka Ugwounye bail on the premise that bail could not be argued orally. He then ordered Mr. Ugwounye to be remanded in EFCC custody till March 30, 2011 when trial will commence.