Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State – A fresh wave of outrage has swept through Delta State following the controversial release of three convicted fraudsters—including Joseph Nwaukoni, the brother of businessman Mike Nwaukoni—who were found guilty of a ₦31 million land scam but mysteriously walked free just days after sentencing.
The case, heard in Magistrate Court 2 in Ogwashi-Uku (Charge No. MO/106C/2023), involved defendants Joseph Izegbue, Joseph Nwaukoni, and Charles Osadebe. They were convicted of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses, after defrauding businesswoman Pauline Okonkwo of ₦31 million under the guise of selling 400 plots of land in Azagba, Ogwashi-Uku.
The court found that the three men knowingly sold land in dispute, fully aware of rival claims. In her ruling, the Magistrate stated that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, supported by four witnesses including the complainant. Though the convicts admitted to receiving ₦18.5 million, evidence—including transfer records—confirmed total payments of ₦31 million.
However, citing the defendants’ age ordered full restitution of the ₦31 million or a one-year prison term.
Just days later, in a move many see as legally baseless and ethically corrupt, Honourable Justice K.O. Okpu of the Ogwashi-Uku High Court granted the convicts bail.
This decision is under fire for several reasons:
No appeal had been filed or registered with the High Court at the time of the bail.
No case records from the Magistrate’s Court had been compiled or transmitted.
No medical reports were presented to justify urgent medical bail.
No evidence of terminal illness or health emergencies was provided.
Despite these legal deficiencies, the convicts walked free—thanks, insiders allege, to over ₦5 million in bribes paid by Barrister Francis Okolie, a local lawyer known infamously as the “Mayor of Ogwashi.”
Okolie, who did not handle the trial, is alleged to have used his long-standing relationship with Justice Okpu to broker the deal, once again bypassing procedure and making a mockery of the justice system. He has been heard bragging publicly about his control over the judge and offering to "help" others secure favorable outcomes through his influence.
“This is no longer a legal system—it’s a black market,” said a lawyer familiar with the case. “This was a conviction based on solid evidence. The judgment was sound. And yet within a day, it’s been overturned with no legal basis. How?”
In Ogwashi-Uku, community members say this case is just the latest example of the decay in the judiciary. Barrister Okolie is known for stalling cases where he's personally involved and manipulating judges to delay or suppress proceedings. His courtroom record is dismal, marked by absences and a general disregard for legal diligence—but he makes up for it, locals say, through deep-pocketed influence.
“Everyone here knows: if Francis is involved, the case will never see justice,” said one resident.
For the victim, Pauline Okonkwo, and her family—referred to in town as "Mama Onitsha"—the bail decision is a bitter betrayal. “The court said they should pay us back. Now they’re walking free, with no accountability. What message does that send?” a family member asked.
They’ve vowed to pursue every legal and civil option available to challenge the bail and demand a full investigation into Justice Okpu’s role. Legal experts say the entire process—especially the lightning-speed appeal that supposedly materialized overnight—is irregular and likely fabricated.
“This kind of judicial compromise is how Nigeria loses faith in the rule of law,” said a Delta-based human rights lawyer. “When judgments can be undone by bribes, then justice is for sale.”
There are now growing calls for the National Judicial Council (NJC) and other oversight bodies to probe both Justice Okpu and Barrister Okolie. Activists warn that without decisive action, Ogwashi-Uku may remain a dangerous symbol of how badly Nigeria’s courts can be hijacked by power and money.
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