Emmanuel Nwude

Nwude impersonated Paul Ogwuma, then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=im7JonQijyUC&q=%22Emmanuel%20Nwude%22&pg=PA162 |title=McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld - Misha Glenny - Google Books |date= May 2008|accessdate=2013-11-21|isbn=9780887848650 |last1=Glenny |first1=Misha |publisher=House of Anansi }} and successfully convinced Sakaguchi, a then director at Brazil's Banco Noroeste, to "invest" in a new airport in the nation's capital, Abuja, in exchange for a $10 million commission. In August 1997, the Spanish Banco Santander wanted to take over the Banco Noroeste Brazil. The fraud was uncovered after a December 1997 joint board meeting, in which an official from Santander inquired about why a large sum of money, two-fifths of Noroeste's total value and half of their capital, was sitting in the Cayman Islands unmonitored.

This led to criminal investigations in Brazil, Britain, Nigeria, Switzerland, and the United States. To guarantee the sale to Santander, the Simonsen and Cochrane families, the owners of Banco Noroeste, paid the $242 million bill themselves. However, Banco Noroeste collapsed in 2001.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3479957.stm |title=Africa | Bribery warning at '419' trial |publisher=BBC News |date=2004-02-11 |accessdate=2013-11-24}}

Nelson Sakaguchi was later arrested at New York's John F. Kennedy airport and dispatched to Switzerland to stand trial on charges relating to setting up bank accounts there as part of the fraud.{{cite web

|url =https://www.theregister.com/2004/07/20/419_trail_collapse/

|work = The Register

|title = $242m 419 scam trial collapses ; Nigerian judge claims 'no jurisdiction to hear it, this guy is the biggest pief i know'

|author = Lester Haines

|date = 20 July 2004

|access-date = 2021-05-04

}}

At the request of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was created by the Nigerian Parliament in 2002.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=im7JonQijyUC&q=%22Emmanuel%20Nwude%22&pg=PA181 |title=McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld - Misha Glenny - Google Books |date= May 2008|accessdate=2013-11-21|isbn=9780887848650 |last1=Glenny |first1=Misha |publisher=House of Anansi }} In February 2004, Amaka Anajemba, Emmanuel Nwude, Emmanuel Ofolue, Nzeribe Okoli, and Obum Osakwe (Christian Anajemba was deceased at this point), were all arrested and charged in the Abuja High Court with 86 counts of "fraudulently seeking advance fees" and 15 counts of bribery related to the case.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/06/1075854068538.html |title=Nigerians charged over scam that sank bank - World |publisher=www.smh.com.au |date=2004-02-07 |accessdate=2013-11-24}} They pleaded not guilty. They were immediately cautioned against bribing the court staff by Abuja High Court Judge Lawal Gumi, after he alleged that money was circulating.

The defense team assured that "nothing would be done to bring scandal to the administration of justice." Four Nigerian companies, Fynbaz, Emrus, Ocean Marketing and the African Shelter Bureau also faced charges and pleaded not guilty. In July 2004, Judge Lawal Gumi threw out the case, claiming that since the crime did not take place in Abuja, he had no jurisdiction, and said that the proper place for the case would be the Lagos High Court.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3909233.stm |title=Africa | Huge Nigeria scam trial collapses |publisher=BBC News |date=2004-07-20 |accessdate=2013-11-24}}

The defendants were immediately rearrested after stepping outside the courthouse and the case was moved to Lagos. In 2005, Nwude attempted to bribe Nuhu Ribadu, then head of the commission, with $75,000 cash. He was charged in connection with the attempted bribery in addition to the attempted kidnapping of a prosecution witness.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=im7JonQijyUC&q=%22Emmanuel%20Nwude%22&pg=PA182 |title=McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld - Misha Glenny - Google Books |date= May 2008|accessdate=2013-11-21|isbn=9780887848650 |last1=Glenny |first1=Misha |publisher=House of Anansi }}{{cite web|url=http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/default.aspx?a=8085&template=print-article.htm |title=OnlineNigeria.com - Nwude, prison warden face 5-count charge |publisher=Nm.onlinenigeria.com |date= |accessdate=2013-11-21}} In July 2005, Amaka Anajemba admitted to helping Anajemba and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and ordered to repay $25.5 million.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4690031.stm |title=Africa | Jail for Nigerian bank fraudster |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-07-16 |accessdate=2013-11-24}}{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/nigeria-jails-woman-in-bank-scam-case-1.248398 |title=Nigeria jails woman in bank scam case - Africa | IOL News |publisher=IOL.co.za |date=2005-07-17 |accessdate=2013-11-24}}

During Nwude's trial, there was a bomb scare that caused the courthouse to be evacuated.{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/88297_Bomb-scare-disrupts-US-242-million-fraud-trial |title=Bomb scare disrupts US$242-million fraud trial - News |publisher=JamaicaObserver.com |date=2005-09-14 |accessdate=2016-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810122123/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/88297_Bomb-scare-disrupts-US-242-million-fraud-trial |archive-date=2016-08-10 |url-status=dead }} Emmanuel Nwude and Nzeribe Okoli pleaded guilty after testimony from Sakaguchi in hopes of a more lenient sentence, and were sentenced to 29 years in prison collectively, with Nwude receiving five consecutive sentences of five years, totaling 25, and Okoli receiving four.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/fraudsters-jailed-after-240m-scam/ |title=Fraudsters jailed after $240m scam |publisher=ZDNet |date=2005-11-21 |access-date=2013-11-24}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irinnews.org/report/57302/nigeria-financial-crimes-agency-returns-millions-to-brazilian-bank |title=IRIN Africa | NIGERIA: Financial crimes agency returns millions to Brazilian bank | Nigeria | Economy |publisher=Irinnews.org |date=2005-11-23 |accessdate=2013-11-21}} The entirety of Nwude's assets were confiscated to be returned to the victim and a $10 million fine was imposed to be paid to the Nigerian federal government. It was the first major conviction for the EFCC.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=20051205&id=dvdRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6748,6062960|title=St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} He was released from prison in 2006.{{cite web|last=Peel |first=Michael |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a1351a74-a6ab-11dd-95be-000077b07658.html?siteedition=intl#axzz2l2XhPMlI |title=Nigeria anti-graft drive threatened |publisher=FT.com |date=2008-10-31 |accessdate=2013-11-21}}{{cite web|url=http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=13900 |title=419 Case: Nwude Recovers Seized Assests |publisher=Nm.onlinenigeria.com |date=2008-10-31 |accessdate=2013-11-21}}

Nwude filed a lawsuit to recover his seized assets after he was released from prison, on the grounds that some of the assets were acquired before the offense was committed.{{cite web|author=This Day (Lagos) |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201505081697.html |title=Nigeria: U.S.$242 Scam - Appeal Court Reserves Judgment On Nwude's Assets |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=2015-05-08 |accessdate=2016-12-03}} He has already reclaimed at least $52 Million. As of May 8, 2015, the matter is being heard by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.

On August 19, 2016, the town of Ukpo in the Dunukofia area was attacked by over 200 people, apparently due to a land dispute with the neighboring Abagana community. Four policemen were shot, and Emmanuel Okafor, a security guard at a construction site, was killed.{{cite web|author=Uche Atuma |url=http://sunnewsonline.com/hoodlums-visit-death-mayhem-on-townspeople/ |title=Hoodlums visit death, mayhem on townspeople | The Sun News |publisher=Sunnewsonline.com |date= 23 November 2016|accessdate=2016-12-03}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-11-02 |title=It's Mayhem Over Land Dispute In Anambra As Hoodlums Burn Police Station |url=https://societynow.ng/its-mayhem-over-land-dispute-in-anambra-as-hoodlums-burn-police-station/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=SocietyNow |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=Local Police Post Attack: 23 Arrested Over Death Of Security Guard In Anambra |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2016/08/23/police-post-attack-23-arrested-death-security-guard-anambra/amp/ }} The Anambra State Police Command alleged that Nwude was a ringleader, and arrested him on 27 charges including murder, attempted murder, and terrorist attacks.{{cite web |author=Gistmaster |url=http://www.niyitabiti.net/2016/09/anambra-state-police-declares-ex-419-kingpin-chief-emmanuel-nwude-owelle-abagana-wanted/ |title=Anambra State Police declares ex-419 kingpin Chief Emmanuel Nwude (Owelle Abagana) wanted – Gistmaster |publisher=Niyitabiti.net |date=2016-09-27 |accessdate=2016-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220081650/http://www.niyitabiti.net/2016/09/anambra-state-police-declares-ex-419-kingpin-chief-emmanuel-nwude-owelle-abagana-wanted/ |archive-date=2016-12-20 |url-status=dead }} He was being held at Awka Prison in Anambra State,{{cite web|author=Millionaire’s detention ignites jailbreak fear in Anambra |url=http://www.informationng.com/2016/11/millionaires-detention-ignites-jailbreak-fear-anambra.html |title=Millionaire's detention ignites jailbreak fear in Anambra - INFORMATION NIGERIA |publisher=Informationng.com |date=2016-11-05 |accessdate=2016-12-03}} but was released on bail on December 8, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/ukpoabagana-land-dispute-court-grants-nwude-another-bail/|title=Ukpo/Abagana land dispute: Court grants Nwude, another bail|date=December 8, 2016}}

He is the president-general of Ugbene town union.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/anambra-community-selects-crowns-new-monarch/|title=Anambra community selects, crowns new monarch|date=January 15, 2020}}

On 25 February 2021, while testifying before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Nwude denied knowing the source of the $242m that was transferred into his account. Mr. Nwude, after serving part of his 25 year jail term, is back in court alongside two lawyers – Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Roland Kalu.

All three face a 15-count charge of forging the documents of a property Justice Oyewole had earlier ordered Nwude to forfeit to his victims. The property is located at Plot Y, Mobolaji Johnson street, Oregun Alausa, Ikeja, Nigeria. Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until 24 May 2021, for continuation of trial.{{cite web

|url =https://thenigerialawyer.com/i-didnt-know-how-242m-got-into-my-account-brazilian-bank-scammer-nwude-tells-court/

|work = The Nigerian Lawyers

|title = I Didn't Know How $242m Got Into My Account, Brazilian Bank Scammer Nwude Tells Court

|author = Unini Chioma

|date = 25 February 2021

|access-date = 2021-05-04

}}

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Category:Nigerian fraudsters

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