Union Bank’s former director, Emmanuel Nwude has cried out to Nigerians.

Nwude, while testifying before an Ikeja special offences court recently said;

“When I was standing trial for the $242 million airport scam, Chris Uche, a member of my legal team, suggested that I take a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC.”

“Uche had advised me to take the plea bargain agreement, like what was done for Amaka Anajemba, one of my co-defendants, so that I will not be made to solely repay the funds to the victims.”

“I refused Uche’s offer because the funds found in my account by EFCC were not proceeds of fraud.”

“I told him that I’m not responsible for the 242 million dollars; that I’m not responsible for this money, I don’t know anything about it.”

“The EFCC should check all the remittances that came through my accounts, though I have various bank accounts of my friend, the late Christian Anajemba (husband of Amaka, his co-defendant).”

“As money came to my accounts, I gave it to one of my Indian friends, Mr Naresh Asnani, who has contact with a Swiss bank, who in turn does the exchange for me.”

“When the money comes in, he (Asnani) took his commission and I’ll take my commission and I give the large sum to Christian Anajemba.”

Nwude is currently facing a 15-count charge for allegedly forging the documents of a property forfeited to his victims.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused him of conspiring with two others — Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Rowland Kalu — “on or about the 12th day of January 2011 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, to forge a Power of Attorney dated 12th day of January 2011, issued in the name of Mankris Venture Limited, purporting that Mankris Venture Limited is the owner of Plot Y, Mobolaji Johnson Street, Oregun, Alausa Lagos, whereas you knew that the property was forfeited to the victims of crimes as restitution”.