Rotimi, U.S. lawyer feud over sale of Nigerian houses
From Laolu Akande, New York

ALTHOUGH, he is being recalled home as Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States (U.S.), Brig. Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd) is still raising posers over certain aspects of the sale of nation's property in Washington, DC and state of Maryland for about $25 million.



advertisement

Rotimi is querying the decision of the Nigerian Embassy's attorney, Emeka Ugwuonye to retain a $1.55 million tax refund on the sale of the property.

While Rotimi argues that the money belongs to the Federal Government and should be returned to the treasury, Ugwuonye insists that he had an agreement with the embassy to put a lien (a legal hold) pending the resolution of issues sorrounding the money in lieu of other money owed him by the government for legal services rendered by his law firm of over 20 lawyers.

The Guardian learnt from the Embassy and other sources that before Rotimi assumed office, the Head of the Nigerian Embassy Chancery/Administration, Mr. Y. S. Abdulahi was authorised in August 2007 by the government to allow the lawyer impose the lien in case his fees for services rendered to the government were not paid at the time of the tax refund.

Ugwuonye had been retained by the Embassy to manage the sale of the property several years before the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, when the sale of the property started.

He was also the lawyer that represented former head of state, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar in the human rights violation case brought against him by Chief Anthony Enahoro and others in a U.S. District Court, first in Detroit, and later in Chicago.

Four Embassy houses were sold in the early years of President Obasanjo's first term and in 2007. The property included buildings that housed the Nigerian Embassy's operations.

The first was an abandoned property on M and Wootin Street in the U.S. capital. The building used to serve as the Embassy's offices in Washington, DC. It was sold for about $2.5 million. The second was the Nigerian Embassy office on 16th Street, sold for $7 million, while another one on M Street was sold for $12 million. They were abandoned after Nigeria built a bigger embassy office in the U.S. at International Court in Washington, DC. Former Vice President Abubakar Atiku commissioned the new office in 2003.

The 4th property sold was the Ambassador's residence on Connecticut Street, close to Washington, DC but actually located in the adjoining state of Maryland. The residence was considered a security concern because it was too close to the main road.

The sales were done when Prof. George Obiozor held sway as Nigeria's envoy.

While the transactions were completed late in 2007, a tax refund, which had been withheld - a common practice in U.S. real estate sales - from Nigeria by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service was later released through the Nigerian Attorney in the sum of $1.55 million.

Ugwuonye confirmed to The Guardian that he invoked his right to impose the lien because other fees owed him were not being paid by the government.

Rotimi, who arrived in Washington, DC in March 2008, said it was during the handover process that he was made aware of the transactions. He confirmed in a telephone chat that the embassy felt that the money belonged to the government and should be refunded.

According to him, the Embassy has paid the attorney his legal fees, adding that "we do not owe him a kobo, or dollar." Asked if he was aware that Ugwuonye had an agreement with the embassy that empowered him to invoke a lien on the refund, Rotimi challenged the lawyer to provide such proof.