LAGOS, NIGERIA – Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, convicted and sentenced notorious fraudster Emmanuel Nwude, along with his two legal counsel, Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Rowland Kalu, to one year imprisonment each. The trio was found guilty of forgery and unlawfully dealing in forfeited property.
The convicts had been arraigned on March 2, 2018, facing an amended 15-count charge that included conspiracy, forgery, uttering false documents, dealing with forfeited property, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and fabricating evidence.
A key count in the charge stated: “Emmanuel Nwude, Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Rowland Kalu, between 2011-2012, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without due authorization by the Commission, dealt with the property known as Plot Y Mobolaji Johnson Street, Oregun, Ikeja, whereas you knew that the property was forfeited to the victims of crimes as restitution in the judgment delivered on 18th day of November,2005 by Hon. Justice Oyewole in ID/92C/04 – FRN vs. Emmanuel Nwude and 6 Ors and the victims subsequently sold the property to Rosaab Industrial Design Limited and which Rosaab Industrial Design Limited later assigned to G. C. Nweze and Company Limited.”
All defendants had pleaded “not guilty,” leading to a full trial. Prosecution counsel Nnaemeka Omewa presented five witnesses and submitted numerous documents, which were admitted as evidence. After the prosecution closed its case on March 19, 2019, Nwude and his lawyers filed a no-case submission, which Justice Dada dismissed on September 19, 2019, ordering them to begin their defense.
Nwude appealed this ruling, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal and instructed him to proceed with his defense at the trial court. He eventually opened his case on February 22, 2021, testifying and calling three additional witnesses. Ilechukwu and Kalu also testified in their defense, closing their case on February 27, 2025.
The court then requested final addresses from all parties. However, a dramatic turn occurred on September 25, 2025, when Dr. Babajide Martins, Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos State, appeared in court to announce his intention to take over the proceedings. This intervention was reportedly prompted by a petition from Ilechukwu. Justice Dada questioned the timing, noting the matter was nearly concluded, and Martins could not provide a definite answer. The court adjourned to November 5, 2025, for the adoption of final addresses.
In her judgment on Wednesday, Justice Dada found the defendants guilty on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, while acquitting them on counts 7 and 8, which concerned making false statements to a public officer. Each defendant was subsequently sentenced to one year imprisonment.
The saga leading to this conviction began with a petition received by the Commission in July 2017. Investigations traced back to Nwude’s earlier prosecution, where he and five others, including his company Emrus Auto Nigeria Limited, were arraigned for conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense from Banco Noroeste S.A of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Stanton Development Corporation.
In a plea bargain, Nwude agreed to forfeit his properties, including Plot Y Mobolaji Johnson Street, Oregun, Ikeja, to the victims as restitution. Following this, Justice J.O.K. Oyewole of the Lagos State High Court convicted Nwude and his company in 2005, sentencing him to five years imprisonment and ordering the forfeiture of the said properties. Plot Y Mobolaji Johnson Street, owned by Emrus Auto Nigeria Ltd., was subsequently sold to Rosaab Industrial Design Ltd. and later assigned to G. C. Nweze and Company Limited.
However, after serving his initial prison term, Nwude engaged Ilechukwu and Kalu to reclaim the forfeited property. He issued a Power of Attorney to Kalu in the name of Mankris Ventures Ltd, falsely presenting it as the property’s owner. Kalu then obtained a Magistrate Court order to eject G. C. Nweze & Co from the property. Ilechukwu, with court sheriffs and police, enforced this eviction.
G. C. Nweze & Co sought to overturn the order, alleging fraud. Nwude and his lawyers then filed numerous petitions and lawsuits, leading the Commission to launch a fresh investigation into their activities, culminating in the current conviction.
