. People, The tragedy here is that some of us like to bring personal biases into public discussions. The issue is not whether Professor Bolaji Aluko published the address of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, but whether such a publication breaches any rule of law, propriety or morality in the context of the prevailing discussion at the time. Quite apart from the fact that Professor Aluko did not in actual fact public the address, publishing it by anybody did not breach any rule. Thus, bringing in such issues as Aluko's age, Okonjo-Iweala's Harvard degree, her children, her salary or her status at the World Bank are diversionary. Prof Aluko has showed proof that he never published the address; but whether he did or not is irrelevant. People need to focus on issues, rather than seek to call a dog a bad name to hang it. As a matter of record, Messrs Jonathan Elendu and Omoyeye Sowore as part of Elendu Report published the address and at the time, some of us felt there was no reason to vilify them for so doing. I wrote then to support their action (please find link to my article in support below). I know that Nigerians are notorious for suffering from amnesia. But some of us still stand by our position then in relation to the Dollars Salaries affair. There was nothing ethnic in our support or non-support of the action of the Ministers in question receiving dollars salaries. The Court of Appeal has upheld every argument we put forth against the action then and Obasanjo's government, Okonjo-Iweala and Dr Adeniyi never appealed that decision. Their action has been declared illegal by our courts and time does not make illegality legal. So, gentlemen, if you want to crucify Professor Aluko, look for something much more meaningful than this unfounded accusation about publishing Okonjo-Iweala's address. At the time, she was a public officer immersed in a controversy over receiving public funds to pay the mortgage for the property in question amongst other things. Thus, any information regarding the property, including its address was and still is a matter of public interest. And oh, if anyone is interested in interrogating how Prof Aluko manages to live in a palace when he is a mere professor, they need to do better than conjecturing. Professor Aluko was never a public officer in Nigeria and if anyone has proof that he somehow made money from being close to public officials and used this money to get himself a huge pad, they need to provide the proof rather than engage in mere tittle-tattle. We have all been in this public commentary business too long to continue on this line of unsupportable and unproductive accusations. http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/kennedy-emetulu/the-finance-minister-and-the-dollar-salary-affair.html ….
--- On Wed, 4/8/10, hamza aliyu <hamingra@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: hamza aliyu <hamingra@yahoo.com>
Subject: NIDOA | Re: [Naijaintellects] FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Map that Aluko Showed, not Any House {Re: ....you do me, I do you.. MOdupe +: BOLAJI ALUKOS house in picture ,
To: naijaintellects@googlegroups.com
Cc: "NIDOA NIDOA" <nidoa@yahoogroups.com>, "NigerianWorldForum" <NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, 4 August, 2010, 15:05
so sorry prof. for this ill thought out write up that we all know is motivated by things order than good. this is the dividend of free speech, or is it? HAMZA
From: Mobolaji ALUKO <alukome@gmail. com>
To: naijaintellects@ googlegroups. com; naijapolitics@ yahoogroups. com; omoodua@yahoogroups .com; NIDOA <NIDOA@yahoogroups. com>; NIgerianWorldForum@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Wed, August 4, 2010 1:39:48 AM
Subject: [Naijaintellects] FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Map that Aluko Showed, not Any House {Re: ....you do me, I do you.. MOdupe +: BOLAJI ALUKOS house in picture ,
Dear All: Here is what that is liar called Dominic Ogbonna wrote: QUOTE Yet, despite all this, professor Aluko posted the family house belonging to the Iweala household on the world wide web. It didn't even matter that Minister Iweala and her husband purchased their mansion long BEFORE she became a Minister. The picture of her Washington house was posted on the web, by professor Aluko, because all is apparently fair when you must rubbish someone you don't like. UNQUOTE Even Elendu, who first posted the ADDRESS and PICTURE of Audu Abubakar's house, followed up by Sowore (who was working with Elendu Reports at that time), NEVER posted any picture of Okonjo-Iweala' s home. Okonjo-Iweala NEVER complained about that, but about her address being published - something that ANYBODY can get at the drop of a hat. I have NO IDEA how Okonjo-Iweala' s Potomac house looks. I have seen the picture of Audu's house, and have been to Atiku's former Potomac house (twice) . After Elendu and Sowore had published the addresses of Abubakar, Atiku, Orji Kalu, Alamieyeseigha and Okonjo-Iweala as living within miles of each, what I published in Nigerianmuse. com was the following map: It was to GRAPHICALLY show the proximity of the Nigerian officials living in the Potomac area - Orji Kalu in River, Alam in Pleasant, Atiku in Sorrel, Audu Abubakar in Glen and Okonjo-Iweala in Palatine, all within four to five miles of each other. It is that map that has now TRANSLATED - in the minds of Ogbonna and Attueyi's ilk - into Aluko PUBLISHING the PICTURE of Okonjo-Iweala, forgetting not only that Elendu first PUBLISHED the addresses NOT only of Okonjo-Iweala, but also of many other officials. Why is it only Aluko that is remembered in the issue? Why is it only Okonjo-Iweala that is remembered? Where is the house published? Did Walter Blair or Sowore publish Okonjo-Iweala' s house too? Was Okonjo-Iweala' s World Bank office picture also published - or why was Aluko's Howard University office also published? That is how the minds of Ogbonna and Attueyi's ilk work. It is a pity, but we shall be here to contend with your lies, and those that will hide behind lies and blind ethnic loyalty to steal our patrimony. It stiffens my resolve. It steels it. Bolaji Aluko
--- On Tue, 8/3/10, Dominic Ogbonna <summadom@gmail. com> wrote:
From: Dominic Ogbonna <summadom@gmail. com>
Subject: Re: [NIgerianWorldForum ] Re: [NaijaObserver] MOdupe +: BOLAJI ALUKOS house in picture ,how did he afford such house ?does it have anything to do with his lawyers "Blair" who is in jail for Drug related crime ?
To: NIgerianWorldForum@ yahoogroups. com
Cc: "Punch me I deck U" <nigeria360@yahoogro ups.com>, "Shove truth Down the troat" <newnaijapolitics@ yahoogroups. com>, NaijaObserver@ yahoogroups. com, "Egbuwara isi group" <naijaintellects@ googlegroups. com>, "Bolaji ALUKO" <alukome@gmail. com>, "Emeka Ugwuonye" <eu@eculaw.com>, "TalkNaija" <talknigeria@ yahoogroups. com>, naijapolitics@ yahoogroups. com, omoodua@yahoogroups .com
Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 4:04 PM
Pius Adesanmi, Olu Ojedokun: You guys are all eager to explain how professor Aluko could afford his residence. I am hearing you clearly ooo. But while we are on the topic, shouldn't all of us also also accuse professor Aluko of, in Olu Ojedokun words, " hatred coupled with tribal animosity" ? I am asking because, Mazi Odera has only borrowed a leaf from the manual that professor Aluko himself perfected. Let us take just one example -how professor Aluko tried to rubbish the personal integrity of another professional, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, by posting her house on the www, and insinuating her mansion was the product of loot. Let us review briefly: 1. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is about the same age as professor Aluko. 2. She graduated from the prestigious Harvard University. 3. She bagged a PhD from MIT after that! 4. Before she was persuaded to work as a Minister in Obasanjo's government, she had already spent 21 accomplished years working as a Development Economist at the World Bank. 5. She had in fact risen to the position of Vice President at the Word Bank. I don't know how much she earns, but I think we can all safely assume that she at least earned as much as professor Aluko -probably a heck of a lot much more. 6. And if her salary were not enough, her husband's salary would have certainly helped. Ngozi is married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala, an MD, a man who has worked as a surgeon in the United states for nearly 40 years! Does it get any better? Actually it does! 6. Okonjo-Iweala' s children are also accomplished. One graduated from Harvard. Another has a PhD from Harvard. Yet another is well on his way to becoming an accomplished author. So does it look like the Okonjo-Iweala family are poor? Do they look like a family who can not afford their family house? Yet, despite all this, professor Aluko posted the family house belonging to the Iweala household on the world wide web. It didn't even matter that Minister Iweala and her husband purchased their mansion long BEFORE she became a Minister. The picture of her Washington house was posted on the web, by professor Aluko, because all is apparently fair when you must rubbish someone you don't like. So Should we also conclude, as Olu Ojedokun has now done, that professor Aluko posted Okonjo-Iweala' s house not because her family couldn't afford that house, but merely because, he was viewing her through a " prism of hatred coupled with tribal animosity"? Olu Ojedokun, would that charge as applied to professor Aluko also ring a bell? Or do these charges stick only when Aluko is the victim? Fellas, what goes around comes around. Dominic On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 1:33 PM, Pius Adesanmi <piusadesanmi@ yahoo.com> wrote: Oderaigbo:
I salute you. I've been trying to stay way from this thread but I think a response has become necessary at this stage not because your query deserves one but as public service information for the benefit of forumites who are not familiar with the North American system. The scenario you will read below applies - with allowances for different personal situations - to Nigerian Professors in USA/Canada irrespective of ethnicity. So don't even think I am coming to this from the usual unproductive Yoruba-Igbo listserv roforofo. I come to this as a Naija Professor who am miffed that you have the audacity to be asking how a senior colleague could afford a house within the range of his juniors by several years in the system. You must be very poorly informed about the mortgage range and lifestyle of Nigerian Professors in the US and Canada.
Here is a general trend. An entry-level Assistant Professor in the US and Canada usually enters the mortgage business by buying a three bedroom/2 baths (basement, ground floor, upstairs, one-car garage) townhome. By year four to five of his tenure-track clock, he is already eyeing tenure along. He is preparing to sell the town home, plunge in his equity to buy precisely the kind of house you have posted here. Most Nigerian Professors arrive at the level of the house you have posted here somewhere between the end of their Assistant Professorship and the beginning of their Associate Professorship in the North American system.
And that even depends on their fields and the entry salaries they negotiated with their employers. As you know, each Professor negotiates his entry salary with employers here in North America. The salaries are much higher in the sciences than in the arts and humanities. When I started as an entry-level Assistant Professor at Penn State back in 2001, I socialized with a very good crop of Assistant Professors across several disciplines. Sometimes you compared notes if people didn't mind disclosing such things. What we found out was that those of us who were able to negotiate starting assistant prof salaries in the mid-60,000s to the 70,000s in the arts and humanities back then were considered top notch and exceptional. An insult to our colleagues in the Agric Science and Engineering where entry-level Assistant Professors started from the 90,000s range to 120.000s range. I am not even going to talk about the grants regime in the sciences. You will faint if you hear what an Assistant Professor of Engineering could control as grant in the US.
Translation of these salaries in mortgage language: while those of us in the Arts and Humanities started with the familiar townhome scenario in the town of State College, Pennsylvania, those in the sciences (Agric and Engineering) were buoyant enough to start directly with single detached duplexes of the sort you have posted here. In essence, the house you have posted here is what Associate Professors and modest full Professors buy in the North American system.
Now, after the housing bubble in 2005-2006, Nigerian Professors in the US upped their game big time. Banks were repossessing "fantabulous" duplexes all over the US and were desperate to sell them to regular Joes with regular middle class incomes. Enter Nigerian Assistant and Associate Professors! I still regularly visit my colleagues in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, up state New York, Connecticut etc. You should see how they cashed in and bought unbelievable cribs for peanuts. I accuse some of them of pushing me back to Canada, only to cause that housing bubble and cash in behind my back! These are Assistant and Associate Professors.
And you are here posting an average American duplex with no signs of ostentation and asking how a tenured full Professor of Chemical Engineering - who has spent more than three decades in the American system - could afford it?
As for the cars - assuming that the Alukos were not hosting friends when your snipper photographer violated their space - you must not know many Professors in the sciences in America. They drive Jaguars, BMW Jeeps, Benz jeeps and the like. And I am sure you have heard of the American dream? A couple, a house, two cars, and a third car when their first child becomes an undergraduate and saves two or three thousand bucks working at Mcdonald's to buy his or her first student jalopy car? And you are here busting a vein because of a Dodge Caravan, a Toyota Avalon and a Chrysler Cruiser in front of the house of a married tenured Professor with grown up children?
Now I assume that Professor Aluko has two undergraduate kids? That means that a fourth car is even missing in your picture. What are you going to do about it?
We don't know Professor Aluko's grant history but as an Assistant Professor in the sciences in the US, he already could afford the house you are wailing about, especially in college town America or in suburbia. For those of us in the academic system, irrespective of our ethnic affiliations, I'm afraid you have merely enhanced your foe's image. I now think of him as a modest man in terms of material acquisition.
Pius
--- On Tue, 3/8/10, Oderaigbo <odera.igbo@yahoo. ca> wrote:
From: Oderaigbo <odera.igbo@yahoo. ca>
Subject: [NaijaObserver] MOdupe +: BOLAJI ALUKOS house in picture ,how did he afford such house ?does it have anything to do with his lawyers "Blair" who is in jail for Drug related crime ?
To: nigerianworldforum@ yahoogroups. com, "Punch me I deck U" <nigeria360@yahoogro ups.com>, "Shove truth Down the troat" <newnaijapolitics@ yahoogroups. com>, "Bring your baseball bat" <NaijaObserver@ yahoogroups. com>, "Egbuwara isi group" <naijaintellects@ googlegroups. com>, "Bolaji ALUKO" <alukome@gmail. com>, "Emeka Ugwuonye" <eu@eculaw.com>, "TalkNaija" <talknigeria@ yahoogroups. com>
Date: Tuesday, 3 August, 2010, 17:04
Modupe, Seems you are new here and all the forum at that ,it was Bolaji Aluko that started this kind of hand shake. Did you know that Emeka Ugwuonye,s crime against Aluko was his igbo name ?.Federal Government did not complain on whatever deal they had with Emeka as thier attorney.But because he is an igbo chap ,Aluko the man that hated ndi igbo with passion took over and start hunting Emeka ,what do you think he wanted from that ? To make Emeka loose fame and face ,to let Emeka,s children beg bread after the father must have become poor. Did you know that same Bolaji hired a camerounian and ask her to call Boeing and complain against Chukwuma Agwunobi and ask them to fire Chukwuwa ? What do you think was the reason ?///// IGBO NAME Do you know that Aluko has a brother who served as a Sinator and what he embezzled will make Patricia Attah look like MOTHER THERESA.But yet,Aluko is always the first to start showing pictures of people,s houses ,he,ve done it to more than 3 igbo people ,he even went as far as showing the husband of Ngozi Iweala and his cars ,,which means to Aluko everything is fair play and maybe his family picture may join this circus soon... Meanwhile you,ve not answered the question that accompanied the picture and Aluko did not deny the house nor the Cars that littered the compound,,,, i represent ,,,,
How can Aluko with his salary as a teacher afford to buy this house at the expensive location ?....Does it have to do with the business of his attorney Mark Blair who is in jail for Drug related crime ?. Or is there something very hidden that Aluko is generating fund from ?
Blair, Aluko, Sobo, Sowore Are "Convicted Criminals By Association"—RepublicReport 2 AUGUST 2010 WRITTEN BY REPUBLIC REPORT NEW YORK 7 VIEWS VIEW COMMENTS New York [RR] MARYLAND—the massive litigation crisis between Bolaji Aluko & Team & Nigerian-Washington Lawyer Ephraim E. Ugwuonye is  getting messier over time. Last week RepublicReport. com published a report that showed that Mr. Aluko's legal team was headed by a convicted criminal [Blair] by Justice Department, who is currently serving jail-term that might run for eight [8] solid years. Aluko's other lawyer Sobo, with his License to practice was also suspended for 60-days for extorting money from his clients, a conduct that's questionable. Curiously SR never published these criminal records  of Aluko's counsel nor did Sowore/SaharaReport ers.com mention them in their reportage, rather it focused on Ugwonye's alleged 'impounded $1.55 million" including casting aspersions in alleged "Campaign of calumny to destroy Ugwuonye as a person and his credibility", while Bolaji's legal team credibility has been discredited, until the aforementioned bombshell about Mr. Walter Blair, Aluko's legal counsel was uncovered by RepublicReport; but, SR made them [Bolaji/Blair/ Sobo] look like Saints. SR has done a good job in the past but on this score RR  disagrees with SR because its biasness over these allgations were/are obivious. Surprisingly, allegations published by SR/Sowore about the alleged $1.55 million "impounded" by Ugwuonye's law firm never mentioned that Nigeria Federal government through various contracts agreement owned Ugwuonye's firm unpaid back monies for several services provided by Ugwuonye's Firm, for over 7-years, sources told RepublicReport. com. RepublicReport decided to investige further and discovered that even Mr. Sobo had good relationship in the past with Ugwuonye, and communicated to Ugwuonye even equating Ugwuonye to Nigerian-SAN status to his friends, when they met in Lagos some two to three years ago. Sources told RR that Sobo told Ugwuonye that Bolaji and SR/Sowore and company were out to tarnish his image, stating that it's better to stay professional in his communication and not to join issues with  internet chat rooms. However RR discovered that Blair/Sobo is the missing links to SR/Sowore reports for too long, they were the WiliLeaks from these discredited persons to SR for too long, RR uncovered. RR uncovered Mr. Sobo's disparaging writing about Aluko/Sowore/ SR, to Mr. Ugwuonye dated, "Sunday, March 15, 2009 7:31 AM, To: Ephraim Ugwuonye, Subject: The Controversy: Dear Emeka; How are you? This, if you remember, is your friend, Mark Sobo. We last met at Palm View Manor, two years ago. I have been following with interest the controversial development surrounding your issue with the Embassy and the vitriolic internet responses that it has generated. Well, as a fellow lawyer, I share your pain. As a friend, I would advise that you refrain from responding to the internet comments. See, you can never win against those who are determine to tarnish your image regarding your fees. As  lawyers, we all suffer from such aspersion. Remember, you have more professional responsibility to remain judicious even when you are goaded by unsympathetic reactions. Your responses can only further enrage those who may not understand your professionalism. Please, my brother, let the sleeping dog lie; pursue your course discreetly and stop creating a paper trail that may come to haunt you later. Be well, my friend. By the way, I just returned from Nigeria and Ghana where we are representing business client. Let me know if I can assist you in anyway". Muyiwa Sobo, Attorney-at- Law, 240-464-712.  Aluko's House—How he maintains his expensive lifestyle is questionable, espeically with his meager teacher's Salary at Howard University…. So apparently Mr. Sobo wrote Ugwuonye in the past that Aluko/Sowore/ SR wanted to tarnish Mr. Ugwuonye's image through vitriolic campaign of calumny" reports alleged. Even the Nigerian properties that were sold that fetched about 25 million dollars was, with 2.5 or so million as fee to Ugwuonye's law firm cummuliated for over 7-years sources told RR. RR contacted Ugwuonye's firm, Mr. Ugwuonye confirmed that some monies were paid to him but all fees were paid, "The bureaucracy at Nigerian embassy and Nigerian attorney then Aakaooduna made it difficult for Washington to pay up" reports say, adding, "junior officers at the embassy were making close to 350 thousand every months from the left 23 million dollars in the bank, [that 350 thousand every month were the interests] the left 23 million was generating, Ojo Maduekwe, RR learnt wanted to touch the money but couldn't, The came Ambassador Rotimi who requested for have acess to the 23 million dollars sleeping in the bank, reports say, when, Rotimi couldn't reoprts say he heckled the Embassy attorney, Mr. Ugwuonye, sources told RR. So apparently, everybody wanted the money but junior staff at the embassay didn't want to miss their 350-plus thousand dollars every month which were never accounted for, from the property sales through real estate brokerage firm RR gathered. Report say, it was only George Obiozor who didn't want to tapper with the 23 million dollars, etc, unless authorized by Nigerian government in Abuja. Reports say Nigeria Ambassadors posted to New York, London and Washington during Obasanjo administration were treated like Ministers, reports say, these Ambassadors communicated directly to then President Obasanjo. When Late President Yar'Adua was purported elected in 2007, and Ojo Maduekwe made foreign Affairs Ministers, the aforementioned undocumented rules by Abuja changed, Ambassadors to New York [covering UN], Washington and London were to report to the then foreign affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe. But then Ambassador Rotimi didn't want to have it, or take orders from Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, hastly wrote secret letters to the Attorney General and to the President protesting taking orders from Ojo Maduekwe [the rag-tag Biafrans], not enough he fired another letter now, directing to then Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe, were Mr. Rotimi made the comment about Biafra. Mr. Maduekwe promptly forwarded the letter and its derogatory comments to then late President Yar'Adua, who promptly recalled Mr. Rotimi. In addition, RR gathered that during period Mr. Rotimi, called a secret meeting of alleged his Yoruba-cronies plotting a way to deal with Mr. Maduekwe, and deal with Embassay legal Counsel Mr. Ugwuonye, reports alleged that in that secret meeting, "Professor Bolaji Aluko was contacted who brought along his partner Omoyele Sowore" to open a front of attack on how to deal with Mr. Ugwuonye. Reports say,that "was how Sowore/Saharareport ers" went to work in alleged campaign of calumny", adding, "that is why they in Court today" sources told RR. Also it was alleged that Mr. Bolaji Aluko used his connection in the government to disparage Mr. Ugwuonye. Reports say, Mr. Aluko told Mr. Rotimi that Mr. Ugwuonye has been the legal Counsel for too long "over a decade", RR learnt that Mr. Aluko wanted to discredit Mr. Ugwuonye in other to make way for Mr. Sobo [one fo his counsel] to take over the Embassy legal counsel position, making it a Yoruba affair. Reports say, since 2005 or 2003 that Professor Bolaji Aluko has been at war with Igbo, adding, "he hated Igbo just like his father Sam Aluko" and vowed to do anything to make sure Mr. Ugwuonye gone by using Sowore/SR to attack Mr. Ugwuonye's credibility", reports say. However, this morning RR contacted Sowore about these matters and allegations against him that include: 1] that he allegedly was working for Aluko family via discredited Bolaji Aluko law suits, II] that Aluko allegedly leaks information and contacts of top Nigeria government officials past and present to you Sowore… III] That according to our source that you, Sowore calls up Nigerian officials , allegedly telling them that you have discredited information on them that "they either pay up or be rubbished on the internet", etc. These allegations Mr. Sowore vehmently, denied But RepublicReport. com pressed forward with another question to Mr. Sowore, "what is your relationship with Howard Professor Bolaji Aluko", Sowore told RR that "he will not share his relationship with Mr. Aluko with me", adding, "I have never called you before to ask you your relationship with anybody including Ugwuonye" he  added. When I pushed further for explanations, Sowore told RepublicReport that, "You are harassing me", adding that, "under New York State law you cannot force someone or share information if he doesn't want to "you live in the city you understand the law". RR asked "can we send you email and call back later he said, "Whether you send me email or called me back later… all I know is that I can defend myself /SR and that he has finished with this conversation… you interrupted my morrow", he added, "Carl. I have respect for you…stop harassing me… remember I have you on tape", he hanged he phone. Back to the litigation, RR also uncovered Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye's response communication to Mr. Sobo dated July 31, 2010: "Dear Muyiwa: How are you? Someone just forwarded to me something written by your client, Mobolaji Aluko. In that writing, Aluko has been apparently casting fresh aspersions on me, obviously in an effort to defend you and Mr. Blair against some of the things that are being written about your disciplinary record. First and foremost, I would like to say that I sympathize with you on the adverse publicity you have come to face in the past couple of days. Obviously, as someone who has suffered a  relentless assault by the likes of your client over the past one year, I can understand your pain. I hope you understand that I have no interest in these exposures, even though such exposures justifiably raise legitimate questions about the motives of Aluko and Sowore in their onslaught against me. I say I have no interest in these revelations because as you can be sure, the first thing I did when Aluko hired you and Walter last year was to check your professional backgrounds. I immediately discovered about the arrest and indictment of Walter and your past disciplinary records in Maryland and DC. Throughout the time that Aluko was vilifying me last year and making exaggerated pronouncements on my professional record, I did not even bother to try to point out your own records. I felt that Aluko has no respect for the truth and it would not make any difference to him what the truth really was. Also, the fact that a lawyer was once suspended is not a fair basis to attack him for all purposes. Only Sowore, with an ulterior motive would do that. Now, and the main reason for this mail, Aluko has been making fresh aspersions against me. He tries to say that I am suspended in DC and NY. Of course, Mark, you know that once I received a disciplinary sanction in Maryland, it was registered in all jurisdictions in which I was licensed, including, but not limited to, DC and New York. After a short period of suspension, I was eligible to automatic reinstatement, especially as there was no restitution order against me. In fact, I was eligible for reinstatement in November of 2008. However, because of my other business engagements outside the United States at the time, I was never in a rush to become reinstated. My legal knowledge and my legal skills did not depend on being licensed in any particular state. If I had chosen to be reinstated in November of 2008, I would not have been in a suspended status in any jurisdiction in February and March of 2009 when your clients and Saharareporters began to assail on me on the ground that I was in suspension. In any event, when I decided to be reinstated, I did not go around reinstating myself in all jurisdictions where I was formally licensed. I only reinstated myself in those jurisdictions that I have time to practice law in. So, I haven't had cause to try to reinstate myself in New York or DC. My hands are full with work in Maryland and other places that I am involved in. You know that no lawyer is ever licensed in all the states. As a young man with a lot of energy, I was able to get licensure in several jurisdictions. Now, as 43-year old man, I do not have the time to practice  law in all the states I was licensed in. I am more stable and settled now. I am based in Maryland. I am not preparing myself for employment in New York or such other places. I really have no need to seek to renew my licenses anywhere outside the present jurisdiction. Also, as you know, I am licensed in several federal jurisdictions and I am involved in things outside the U.S. So, what is the point of Aluko that I have not renewed my license in DC and NY? How does this story help Aluko? How does it address the stories about Blair. Further, you would recall that on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at the court house, you and I had some frank discussions. I conveyed to you my displeasure at the manner in which Aluko has been making all manner of false publications about this case. I also expressed my concerns about the fact that you had not been able to control him. When I say control, I meant the need for a lawyer to guide his client on what is the proper way to behave to avoid escalation of dispute. The purpose of dispute resolution is to move from conflict to resolution. It is always dangerous to have a client who escalates a dispute. Even if that increases the fee of a lawyer, the lawyer still has a duty to direct his client toward reason and logic. You will specifically recall my phone conversation with you on April 21, 2010, when I discovered that you were the same guy I had met in Lagos three years ago, and that you were particularly courteous to me in Lagos. Just to refresh your memory, when I arrived at my hotel in Lagos in 2007, where you were already lodged, you recognized me as the Emeka Ugwuonye. You were so nice and generous with praises on me that I was even embarrassed. I was embarrassed at some point because you said to a number of people present that I was the equivalent of a SAN in the Washington legal community. I felt particularly embarrassed because despite all the nonsense that have been written about me by Sowore, I never really liked to view myself in such a conceited prism. But I took your compliments as a genuine expression of affection and I tried to reciprocate those sentiments the. I believe that your mail below reflected that sentiment that we shared then. So, when on April 21, I discovered that you were the same Mark Sobo, I called you on the phone and offered to withdraw the case I had filed against Aluko. You and I discussed the need for peace. You promised to speak with Aluko on my offer to dismiss the case. You later advised me that Aluko refused to end the fight and that even if I withdrew mine, Aluko would go forward with his counter suit. I thought that was an extraordinary arrogance and strong-headedness on the part of Aluko. I later said to you that I believed that you had not advised Aluko correctly on the balance of merits of this case. Otherwise, he would not be interested in prolonging a case that he would clearly lose (as far as his counter claim was concerned). In the face of Aluko's obstinacy, the case continued beyond April. As the trial date approaches, it would seem that you were having the kind of difficulties I expected you would have with the case. Three weeks to trial, you filed a motion to postpone the trial. You said you were sick. I did not buy this excuse because I knew that Aluko had planned to travel overseas around the trial date. (Some "reliable sources" told me that) I felt that was your reason for filing for postponement and since you did not want to be upfront about it, I opposed your motion for postponement. Your motion was denied, and we were directed to prepare for trial on July 27. Still faced with Aluko's absence, and with 2 weeks to trial, you had to do something desperate, it seemed. You then filed on July 8, 2010 two strange motions: Motion to stay and Motion for Summary Judgment. Because these motions would not ordinarily be ready for a ruling on them until after the trial date had come and gone, I felt that your motions were just a ploy to force the court to postpone the trial. This is especially because you filed a motion to stay. If you truly believed that your motion for summary judgment would prevail and that you filed it on time, you wouldn't be filing for a stay. So, I did not bother to respond to your motions. Rather, I moved to strike them and I requested for immediate hearing on my motion to strike. On July 21, due probably to errors at the court's assignment office, they scheduled your summary judgment motion (instead of my motion to strike) for hearing on the 23rd. Obviously because I did not file an affidavit in opposition to that motion (on purpose, of course), the court granted your summary judgment motion. There and in the court house, you were so clearly shocked even by your own success. But I made it clear to you before I left the courthouse that I would move to reconsider the ruling and to go on appeal if needed. The same Friday, July 23, you were conferring with Sowore on how to make a news blast on what happened in the court. You didn't even bother to tell Sowore the truth as to what I planned to do. Instead, obviously, you made it look as if Emeka Ugwuonye had been crushed by the strategic brilliance of Aluko's legal team. Or maybe you did tell Sowore the truth. That would never have made any difference to a man with a consuming ambition to destroy Emeka Ugwuonye. As Sowore flashed the propaganda against me, all manner people, even those I had expected to be informed, if they were not themselves consumed by ethnic hatred, jumped to celebrate the great victory of Aluko over Emeka Ugwuonye. They even openly urged Aluko to go ahead and win his counter claim and to claim huge damages against Emeka Ugwuonye. Now let's look at Aluko's counter claim against me, which was due for trial on July 27, 2010. From Sowore and his followers, it was a home run or an open season on Emeka Ugwuonye. When we got to court on July 27, 2010 for trial on Aluko's counter claim that was to fetch him millions of dollars against me, it became clear that Aluko was not in town. Even though he had planned to arrive on July 26, 2010, he was stranded. You did not disclose this fact to me as we sat in the courthouse waiting to be assigned a judge. But I had arranged for Matto Akindana to be my witness. (I am sure people would laugh to hear that Matto would be my witness. But that is my secrete plan. Even Matto does not know how he could be a witness to help my case. And I haven't told him how, even now). As we prepared to go in for trial, I knew I could ask for a continuance on the ground of the storm that had caused power outages in my area for two days previously or I could go forward with trial (or now defense, as only Aluko's counter claim was due for trial). I was not sure whether Aluko was coming or not because if he was not coming, I would immediately move for his case to be dismissed. You kept the fact that Aluko was stranded overseas close to your chest because you understood what I was going to do. You knew that I had had no electricity for the past two days and that I was going to move to postpone the case and you wanted me to do just that. At the same time, I did not want you to know exactly what I was thinking. So, I gave you the impression that once the judge came to the bench I was going to move for a postponement. But a minute before the judge came in; I stepped out and made a phone call. The call was to Matto. I knew that if Matto had not come to court where he was subpoenaed to be, it meant that he knew that Aluko was out of the country and was not going to be in court. So, I called Matto to know where he was and it happened that Matto was at home. I got what I needed. I then put the question straight to Matto: "Where is Aluko?" Matto was forced to reveal that Aluko was still overseas. I came back into the courtroom and sat next to you and we continued smiling as the good friends that we are. However, you were surprised what happened when the case was called. Instead of asking for continuance as you had expected, I asked for Aluko's case to be dismissed. You were shocked at the move. You protested to me and said this was why it was difficult to trust me. But you knew and I knew that there was no way to save Aluko's case. It was out the window. However, I did feel (and this may be strange to many) some sense of guilt for having appeared to mislead you or trick you into believing that I was thinking only of postponing the case unless I saved him. To make you feel better, however, I agreed to dismiss the case without prejudice even though I could have easily dismissed it with prejudice. I didn't really see the difference. I was never threatened by Aluko's case. Also, in order to make you feel better about what happened to Aluko's case, I agreed not to let anyone know that Aluko's case has been dismissed. You got a promise from me that that information would not appear anywhere in the chat-rooms. According to you, such news would cause Aluko a lot of embarrassment. (But why would Aluko be embarrassed by the truth? Is it not the same Aluko with his friend Sowore that has been telling everybody that they cared about the truth?). Again, in my efforts to calm down the nerves and minimize tension, I joined you in the plot to save Aluko the embarrassment of the truth of the dismissal of his case. While Aluko's case was dead and while I was keeping quite about it, Sowore and Aluko were attacking me and you could not stop them. They continued to talk of how they would make money from me out of Aluko's counter suit. One guy who read that nonsense even sent an internet mail urging Aluko to just go and get his money out of the "dead" case. The same guy even posed the question: What would have happened if Emeka Ugwuonye had won the case?" He didn't know that I didn't really lose the case in the sense of Aluko being victorious. Continuing with his campaign, Aluko issued a statement today, which was forwarded to me. In it Aluko claims that the charters to my companies are forfeited. Under normal circumstances, what is Aluko's business with the charters of companies in Maryland? Aluko is supposed to be a professor of engineering minding his research and teaching work. Now, Aluko and Sowore are digging into my companies to see what dirt they could find. Maybe, the world will be reading tomorrow Saharareporters bombshell "Emeka Ugwuonye's Company Charter Forfeited". They shouldn't bother at all. They can just ask me and I would inform them. But when others begin to dig into you own companies, Aluko's companies, Aluko's family companies, Aluko's academic publications, Blair's companies, Saharareporters advertising customers and revenues and other moneys that come into Saharareporters accounts and their sources, you will scream and get upset and Aluko would begin to say that there is no connection between him and you and Blair. When will you learn and when will Aluko rest? When will Sowore realize that finally he has met one Nigerian who does not fear him and who would not be blackmailed by him? Aluko's fresh stories actually complicate things for him. For instance, Aluko just said that Blair never signed any pleadings in his case. You know that's false. Blair signed pleadings for Aluko. When you, Mark, had not renewed your license for the federal court, the same Aluko sent out a mail explaining how Blair was there to motion you in. You know that. You also know that you would not have been able to enter your appearance for Aluko in the federal court when you did, had it not been that you tagged along with Blair, who alone in your team had the requisite license at that time. You know also that Aluko's case is still pending in the federal court. You have an open motion their. You know that even as I write this, Blair is still an attorney of record for Aluko in the federal court because Blair never withdrew his appearance. So, can Aluko simply shut and let's see of there could be peace in the land again? I end by wishing you well. If you remain Aluko's lawyer going forward, I would say that I look forward to seeing you again soon. If not, I would say I still look forward to sharing a drink with you as we promised we would. No amount of Aluko would take away the friendship you showed to me when we met in Lagos. You are really a good guy despite our fights in court. I understand that Aluko came to you willing to pay his last penny to fight me. A lawyer is always at liberty to work for a man willing to pay his last penny for a lawsuit. But when this story is finally told, remember that I was not the one that kept Aluko in court. It was Aluko who refused to bury the hatchet when I offered that to him in April. It is a pity that he lacked the sense of reality, as has been repeatedly shown in his premature celebrations of victory. Please note that in light of Aluko's continued aspersions of me, I am no longer obligated to not say a word about the dismissal of his counter suit. I am sorry if you feel bad about it. I am sure you will understand that Aluko left me no choice", added, Emeka Ugwuonye. As questions continue to be asked about Aluko and his lawyers, RepublicReport. com went to check out a few facts about Aluko and Blair, readers must know that credible sources have raised concern about Aluko's source of income, including questionable character of Sam Aluko his father who worked for "SATANIC" Abacha's military regime, Mr. Sam Aluko continues today, to defend Abacha, regardless of the fact that Sani Abacha was no longer around, telling those who want to listen that, "Abacha was the best thing that happened to Nigeria", reports say. For record Sam Aluko also worked as economic adviser to Chief Awolowo under criminal genocidal government Gowon in the 60s that give war ravaged Biafrans 20 pounds regardless of what you have in the bank account/s. Again, how does Bolaji Aluko's legitimate income support his lifestyle? Some commentators say, "the father still sends money to Bolaji Aluko…so, he still live off his fathers stolen wealth from petro-dollars from former Eastern region…", this commentator who spoke on condition of anynmity because didn't want to be identified because of the sensitivity and emotions surrounding Biafra/Nigeria war 1967 to 1970, " he added. The same questioned is raised about convicted criminal Walter Blair. Credible sources alleged that "Mr. Aluko leaks government secrets to SR..and usually turns around and comments on them when published by Mr. Sowore", sources told RR. Our source further discovered that the massive corruption of Nigeria government officials at home and abroad is astounding to say the least. Argument is that if there is anybody to raise questions about someone's credibility, they say not Aluko/SR since they work hand and glove with a convicted criminal Walter Blair who is already serving jail-term since March 2010. Sources told RR that "the campaign against Ugwuonye and his firm is out of jealousy and envy" reports concluded. Below is additional communica tion RR discovered as it researched the roots and relationship with between Blair/Bolaji/ Sobo/Sowore/ SR. One thing is certain in these allegations—Aluko/Blair/ Sobo/Sowore have all associated in circumstances that raise serious questions about the morality and even criminality of each of them in this litigation war. These shocking discoveries are discovering, especially "for one who project credibility to have a lawyer who is a convicted criminal is just like "kettle calling pot black". Some legal analysts asked, "What sort of legal advice would you expect Blair to have given Aluko over the time that they have had attorney-client relationship….." Sources say, "Probably advise to Aluko to treat the law as he himself would criminally—breaking and fixing committed crimes for their won gains including aiding and abetting drag barons, etc, ", it added. Eyewitnesses and observers say, the fundamental problem about the relationship and association between Bolaji Aluko and Walter Blair remains questionable. In the same vein, what sort of conferencing and advice did Sobo receive from his colleague and co-counsel, Walter Blair? What sort of communication occurred between Sowore and these people over the period since they began their fight against Ugwuonye? In addition, an allegation about having a relationship with convicted criminal who counsels how to commit crimes without being detected needs explanations. Even if these are allegations, certainty, one wonders what transpired between these four individuals—Blair/Bolaji/ Sobo/Sowore over the years. RR learnt that "it is a distinct probability that any relationship between these four men is less than honorable". Curiously Aluko's effort to distance himself from Blair "Is as childish as it is futile sources" told RR. Again, our source told RR, that "Blair was indicted and was facing trial for these crimes before Aluko engaged him in the case against Emeka Ugwuonye. Sobo, himself not a convict, had major problems with the bar well before the time that Aluko commenced his alleged "campaign of calumny against Emeka Ugwuonye latching unto Ugwuonye's disciplinary record that seems actually much better than Sobo's", reports revealed. Aluko a tenured professor at Howard University and a regular commentator at many Nigeria forums have many explanations to do about these discredited relationships. Our source added, "It is unlikely that Aluko would hire a lawyer out of the yellow pages. Essentially it is more likely, he would hire a lawyer that he has been familiar with and had prior relationship with over the years", it added. So what did Mr. Aluko know about Blair [a convicted criminal] and when did he know? A commentator added, "When Aluko went to Blair in his case against Ugwuonye, it would seem that Aluko was practically putting to work the services of an old friend or an old associate with whom he has been well-known" it added. Therefore, what is the precise prior relationship between Aluko and Blair? What did they have in common? People wants to know. Indeed, Aluko has tried to answer these questions in his most recent written statement. Sources say "The only problem is that he is not forth coming in answering these questions, Aluko just simply docked them", adding " we are not surprised at his DEALING… it is like father like son" impeccable reports alleged. For instance, he said that "Blair never signed any court documents on his behalf", but he is not showing legal papers that showed that the convicted criminal has withdrawn his legal services till date. It seems "this is a blatant lie and fallacy" our source who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, added. Our source who is knowledgeable about the case added, "The truth, on the contrary, is that Blair was the attorney who entered appearance in Aluko's case last year—2009, as Mr. Sobo himself could not enter appearance in that court because he was not licensed as at the time of 2009 litigation" it added. RR learnt, "It was Blair that filed the motion to dismiss on behalf of Aluko at the federal court. That motion led to Ugwuonye's decision to voluntarily dismiss the case at the federal court. Sources told RR that "Aluko's principal lawyer in the federal court is Blair", adding "I use the present tense because Blair is still listed as Aluko's lawyer, even several months after Blair commenced his 8-year prison sentence" adding, "Blair never withdrew his appearance as Aluko's lawyer. Sobo never sought to strike the appearance of Blair as Aluko's lawyer. There is no reason to believe that Mr. Blair ever stopped being the brain behind Aluko's defense in the ongoing litigation case. As in a typical attorney-client relationship, Aluko would have stayed in touch with Blair throughout the time", reports concluded. From our investigation there is every indication that Sowore was working in concert with Aluko, and Aluko's lawyers. RR learnt that "The dramatic fashion in which he got some information about the Aluko's case last week betrayed the close interaction between him, Aluko and Aluko's lawyers". Sources added, "Given the distinct probability of Sowore consorting with Blair, questions ought to be raised about Sowore's true intentions or even credibility". AS RR asked above, how come that Mr. Sowore felt comfortable with the criminal status of Aluko's principal lawyer and the checkered ethical past of Mr. Sobo and only writes and talks about Ugwuonye? Legal experts asked, "Is this not the same Sowore who claimed last year, based on thin evidence, that Emeka Ugwuonye was unfit to perform his work as counsel to Nigerian Embassy based on a sanction he received from the bar?…". The question then is "Where is Sowore's morality? Where is his sense of truth and balance, where is his credibility" it added. Since he told RR that "I can't published everything…since you have RepublicReport outfit you can publish areas SR couldn't cover… we are fighting against corruption, we fought together against Abacha regime" Sowore told RR. In our discoveries, Ugwuonye told RR that he maintained that "he and Sowore had a running in the past which was based on the fact that some "clients of Ugwuonye's had complained to him about certain blackmail from Sowore", RR is still investiging…. According to his complaint, which he stated in the court records, Ugwuonye moved to protect his clients from Sowore, who then decided to teach Ugwuonye a lesson", RR is not conversant with these stories but thinks that it is up to SR/Sowore to "defend himself as he stated this morning as RR interviewed him… when it contacted him for explanations and verifications on these allegations. Balanced journalism is appropriate by those who present themselves in the field of investigative journalism or something in that province. Mr. Sowore admitted to RR that "I never studied journalism I am just doing my best",he added. RR, also told SR that I didn't study journalism, RR is doing its best, too, but added, "credibility and honor works together not the other way around," RR added. However, RR told Sowore, "well if you will be writing then be ready to be tested with truths—everybody's statements and writings will be eventually be tested given time, space and place. Blair/Bolaji/ Sobo/Sowore's case vs. Nigerian-Washington -based lawyer Ugwuonye would be tested over time. RepublicReport's bombshell last week was part of that test. Credibility of these individuals Blair/Bolaji/ Sobo/Sowore is been questioned today, and the alleged hasty conflicted news against Ugwuonye in this ongoing case is questionable—it is looking less credible each day, than the time when they were initially reported by, SR. For instance, RR learnt that allegedly, "no court made any of these pronouncements that Sowore reported were made against Ugwuonye" and that "SR/Sowore reported Summary Judgment of July 23, 2010" but refused or ignored to report that Aluko's counter litigation against Ugwuonye was dismissed on July 26, 2010 that makes it look more like a propaganda rather than true journalistic reporting. Balanced journalism will give fair chance to all parties' involved not belated publication this morning Monday August 2, 2010; by SR/Sowore because Mr. Sobo or Bolaji might have leaked the information that RepublicReport was going public with its findings including the unpublished dismissal of counter litigation of Aluko against Mr. Ugwuonye. Our source told RR that, "Aluko's counter suit was dismissed July 26, but Aluko supporters were celebrating, reports say, "they went as far as telling Mr. Aluko to make he gets millions of dollars from Mr. Ugwuonye. According sources, "Mr. Aluko kept quite rather than tell thier supporters that "the counter suit was dismissed on July 26, 2010, and and Sowore/SR that publishes all Aluko verdicts kept mute, and belated this morning August 2, 2010 pulished the dismissed Alukos' counter suit, RR learnt. RR also discovered that "Aluko's legal teams were fundamentally and ethically compromised, and Sowore pretended the opposite", adding, "SR/Sowore seemed to have disappointed himself" then he was this morning telling RepublicReport that "he was been harassed", by RR. The matter now is that this litigation war has entered into a different stage because the according to our sources, "when the judges of Maryland court read the spin that was cast on their decisions especially that of an indicted criminal things might look different for Aluko and his Team" reports added. Those knowledgeable about litigation can see that in a civilized society withdrawing a report would not be enough, adding, "nothing short of straight apology to Ugwuonye would suffice" another commentator added. Whether this case will be, or should be restored or tossed away could be the beginning of finding justice, of the legal war between Aluko and his TEAM and Ugwuonye's firm. RepublicReport believe there is no doubt that we have not heard the last of these litigation developments and the unfolding reports. At the end of the day, the detailed relationshi p between Blair/Aluko/ Sobo/Sowore/ SR shall remain a matter of keen public interest over time, and space. Adding, how would a supposedly brilliant, ubiquitous and loquacious Professor Aluko get himself into this kind of mess? Some commentators at NaijaPolitics a popular online blog say, "Bolaji is brilliant but, he is not intelligent… he always lived a lifestyle of daddy's boy", reports added.  Either way, the questionable relationship between Blair, Aluko, Sobo and Sowore is unraveling. He who seeks equity must come with clean hands" they say. Hypocrisy, campaign of calumny, propaganda, complicity, and simple-mindedness are not better methodologies to fight corruption in Nigeria State, they are rather counterproductive" reports added. Essentially RR refused to be "intimidated by those who see truths and look the other way, but accepts truth when it only favors them. RR knows that truth is self-evident, as there is no other way to it. Convicted criminal Walter Blair and his relationship and as lead legal counsel to Aluko, and Aluko's unexplained relationships with Sowore/SR in allegedly leaked to SR of top Nigerian government official, ex-officials and present officials, including contacts/phone numbers and more, attempt to intimidate these individuals is twisted, compromised, and allegedly places them as convicted criminals via by association to Walter Blair a convicted criminal. To be continued….. | Mazi Odera We report it hot from the spot --- On Tue, 8/3/10, Modupe Odusanya <dupeodus@hotmail. com> wrote:
From: Modupe Odusanya <dupeodus@hotmail. com>
Subject: RE: [NIgerianWorldForum ] Re: BOLAJI ALUKOS house in picture ,how did he afford such house ?does it have anything to do with his lawyers "Blair" who is in jail for Drug related crime ?
To: nigerianworldforum@ yahoogroups. com
Received: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 9:27 PM
I do hope Mr Oderaigbo has consulted a lawyer before he made this post. If these insinuations are not defamation of character, I wonder what is. In the first case, the salary of a Professor of Chemical Engineering in any US University that can handle the program cannot be described as meagre by any standard, including US standard. I dare say that all things being equal, a professor of chemical engineering can afford the home in that picture anywhere in the US with probably the exception of Manhattan, Greenwich and the coastal suburbs of Southern California. Secondly, Prof Aluko is not known to be a politician, politica l appointee or goverment official that should subject his financial affairs to public scrutiny. I really do think Mr Oderaigbo has gone out on a limb here.
Modupe
To: NIgerianWorldForum@ yahoogroups. com From: topcrestt@yahoo. com Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 09:44:26 +0000 Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum ] Re: BOLAJI ALUKOS house in picture ,how did he afford such house ?does it have anything to do with his lawyers "Blair" who is in jail for Drug related crime ? Nigerians, Is there NOTHING sancrosant anymore? A man's home is his castle. A place of refuge for his wife and children ( who may not be on this forum). Even if you think the man is not entitled to the privacy of his home, at least consider his wife and children. Are they also not entitled to not have their home plastered on the www? What next? Their bedroom? Joe --- In NIgerianWorldForum@ yahoogroups. com, Oderaigbo <odera.igbo@. ..> wrote: > > > How can Aluko with his salary as a teacher afford to buy this house at the expensive location ?....Does it have to do with the business of his attorney Mark Blair who is in jail for Drug related crime ?.Or is there something very hidden that Aluko is generating fund from ? > Blair, Aluko, Sobo, Sowore Are “Convicted Criminals By Associationâ€�â€"RepublicReport2 AUGUST 2010 WRITTEN BY REPUBLIC REPORT NEW YORK 7 VIEWS VIEW COMMENTSNew York [RR] MARYLANDâ€"the massive litigation crisis between Bolaji Aluko & Team & Nigerian-Washington Lawyer Ephraim E. Ugwuonye isgetting messier over time.Last week RepublicReport. com published a report that showed that Mr. Aluko’s legal team was headed by a convicted criminal [Blair] by Justice Department, who is currently serving jail-term that might run for eight [8] solid years. Aluko’s other lawyer Sobo, with his License to practice was also suspended for 60-days for extorting money from his clients, a conduct that’s questionable. Curiously SR never published these criminal records of Aluko’s counsel nor did Sowore/SaharaReport ers.com mention them in their reportage, rather it focused on Ugwonye’s alleged ‘impounded $1.55 millionâ€� including casting aspersions > in alleged “Campaign of calumny to destroy Ugwuonye as a person and his credibilityâ€�, while Bolaji’s legal team credibility has been discredited, until the aforementioned bombshell about Mr. Walter Blair, Aluko’s legal counsel was uncovered by RepublicReport; but, SR made them [Bolaji/Blair/ Sobo] look like Saints.  SR has done a good job in the past but on this score RR disagrees with SR because its biasness over these allgations were/are obivious.Surprising ly, allegations published by SR/Sowore about the alleged $1.55 million “impoundedâ€� by Ugwuonye’s law firm never mentioned that Nigeria Federal government through various contracts agreement owned Ugwuonye’s firm unpaid back monies for several services provided by Ugwuonye’s Firm, for over 7-years, sources told RepublicReport. com.   RepublicReport decided to investige further and discovered that even Mr. Sobo had good relationship in the past with Ugwuonye, and > communicated to Ugwuonye even equating Ugwuonye to Nigerian-SAN status to his friends, when they met in Lagos some two to three years ago. Sources told RR that Sobo told Ugwuonye that Bolaji and SR/Sowore and company were out to tarnish his image, stating that it’s better to stay professional in his communication and not to join issues with internet chat rooms. However RR discovered that Blair/Sobo is the missing links to SR/Sowore reports for too long, they were the WiliLeaks from these discredited persons to SR for too long, RR uncovered.RR uncovered Mr. Sobo’s disparaging writing about Aluko/Sowore/ SR, to Mr. Ugwuonye dated, “Sunday, March 15, 2009 7:31 AM, To: Ephraim Ugwuonye, Subject: The Controversy:  Dear Emeka; How are you? This, if you remember, is your friend, Mark Sobo. We last met at Palm View Manor, two years ago. I have been following with interest the controversial development surrounding your issue with the > Embassy and the vitriolic internet responses that it has generated. Well, as a fellow lawyer, I share your pain. As a friend, I would advise that you refrain from responding to the internet comments. See, you can never win against those who are determine to tarnish your image regarding your fees. As lawyers, we all suffer from such aspersion. Remember, you have more professional responsibility to remain judicious even when you are goaded by unsympathetic reactions. Your responses can only further enrage those who may not understand your professionalism. Please, my brother, let the sleeping dog lie; pursue your course discreetly and stop creating a paper trail that may come to haunt you later. Be well, my friend. By the way, I just returned from Nigeria and Ghana where we are representing business client. Let me know if I can assist you in anywayâ€�. Muyiwa Sobo, Attorney-at- Law, 240-464-712. Aluko’s Houseâ€"How he maintains his > expensive lifestyle is questionable, espeically with his meager teacher’s Salary at Howard University….So apparently Mr. Sobo wrote Ugwuonye in the past that Aluko/Sowore/ SR wanted to tarnish Mr. Ugwuonye’s image through vitriolic campaign of calumnyâ€� reports alleged. Even the Nigerian properties that were sold that fetched about 25 million dollars was, with 2.5 or so million as fee to Ugwuonye’s law firm cummuliated for over 7-years sources told RR. RR contacted Ugwuonye’s firm, Mr. Ugwuonye confirmed that some monies were paid to him but all fees were paid, “The bureaucracy at Nigerian embassy and Nigerian attorney then Aakaooduna made it difficult for Washington to pay upâ€� reports say, adding, “junior officers at the embassy were making close to 350 thousand every months from the left 23 million dollars in the bank, [that 350 thousand every month were the interests] the left 23 million was generating, Ojo Maduekwe, RR > learnt wanted to touch the money but couldn’t, The came Ambassador Rotimi who requested for have acess to the 23 million dollars sleeping in the bank, reports say, when, Rotimi couldn’t reoprts say he heckled the Embassy attorney, Mr. Ugwuonye, sources told RR. So apparently, everybody wanted the money but junior staff at the embassay didn’t want to miss their 350-plus thousand dollars every month which were never accounted for, from the property sales through real estate brokerage firm RR gathered.Report say, it was only George Obiozor who didn’t want to tapper with the 23 million dollars, etc, unless authorized by Nigerian government in Abuja.Reports say Nigeria Ambassadors posted to New York, London and Washington during Obasanjo administration were treated like Ministers, reports say, these Ambassadors communicated directly to then President Obasanjo. When Late President Yar’Adua was purported elected in 2007, and Ojo Maduekwe > made foreign Affairs Ministers, the aforementioned undocumented rules by Abuja changed, Ambassadors to New York [covering UN], Washington and London were to report to the then foreign affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe. But then Ambassador Rotimi didn’t want to have it, or take orders from Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, hastly wrote secret letters to the Attorney General and to the President protesting taking orders from Ojo Maduekwe [the rag-tag Biafrans], not enough he fired another letter now, directing to then Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe, were Mr. Rotimi made the comment about Biafra.Mr. Maduekwe promptly forwarded the letter and its derogatory comments to then late President Yar’Adua, who promptly recalled Mr. Rotimi. In addition, RR gathered that during period Mr. Rotimi, called a secret meeting of alleged his Yoruba-cronies plotting a way to deal with Mr. Maduekwe, and deal with Embassay legal Counsel Mr. > Ugwuonye, reports alleged that in that secret meeting, “Professor Bolaji Aluko was contacted who brought along his partner Omoyele Soworeâ€� to open a front of attack on how to deal with Mr. Ugwuonye. Reports say,that “was how Sowore/Saharareport ersâ€� went to work in alleged campaign of calumnyâ€�, adding, â€�that is why they in Court todayâ€� sources told RR.Also it was alleged that Mr. Bolaji Aluko used his connection in the government to disparage Mr. Ugwuonye. Reports say, Mr. Aluko told Mr. Rotimi that Mr. Ugwuonye has been the legal Counsel for too long “over a decadeâ€�, RR learnt that Mr. Aluko wanted to discredit Mr. Ugwuonye in other to make way for Mr. Sobo [one fo his counsel] to take over the Embassy legal counsel position, making it a Yoruba affair.Reports say, since 2005 or 2003 that Professor Bolaji Aluko has been at war with Igbo, adding, “he hated Igbo just like his father Sam Alukoâ€� and vowed to do > anything to make sure Mr. Ugwuonye gone by using Sowore/SR to attack Mr. Ugwuonye’s credibilityâ€�, reports say. However, this morning RR contacted Sowore about these matters and allegations against him that include: 1] that he allegedly was working for Aluko family via discredited Bolaji Aluko law suits, II] that Aluko allegedly leaks information and contacts of top Nigeria government officials past and present to you Sowore… III] That according to our source that you, Sowore calls up Nigerian officials, allegedly telling them that you have discredited information on them that “they either pay up or be rubbished on the internetâ€�, etc. These allegations Mr. Sowore vehmently, deniedBut RepublicReport. com pressed forward with another question to Mr. Sowore, “what is your relationship with Howard Professor Bolaji Alukoâ€�, Sowore told RR that “he will not share his relationship with Mr. Aluko with meâ€�, adding, “I have never called > you before to ask you your relationship with anybody including Ugwuonyeâ€� he added.When I pushed further for explanations, Sowore told RepublicReport that, “You are harassing meâ€�, adding that, “under New York State law you cannot force someone or share information if he doesn’t want to “you live in the city you understand the lawâ€�. RR asked “can we send you email and call back later he said, “Whether you send me email or called me back later… all I know is that I can defend myself /SR and that he has finished with this conversation… you interrupted my morrowâ€�, he added, “Carl. I have respect for you…stop harassing me… remember I have you on tapeâ€�, he hanged he phone.Back to the litigation, RR also uncovered Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye’s response communication to  Mr. Sobo dated July 31, 2010: “Dear Muyiwa: How are you? Someone just forwarded to me something written by your client, Mobolaji Aluko. In that writing, Aluko > has been apparently casting fresh aspersions on me, obviously in an effort to defend you and Mr. Blair against some of the things that are being written about your disciplinary record. First and foremost, I would like to say that I sympathize with you on the adverse publicity you have come to face in the past couple of days. Obviously, as someone who has suffered a relentless assault by the likes of your client over the past one year, I can understand your pain. I hope you understand that I have no interest in these exposures, even though such exposures justifiably raise legitimate questions about the motives of Aluko and Sowore in their onslaught against me. I say I have no interest in these revelations because as you can be sure, the first thing I did when Aluko hired you and Walter last year was to check your professional backgrounds. I immediately discovered about the arrest and indictment of Walter and your past disciplinary records in Maryland > and DC. Throughout the time that Aluko was vilifying me last year and making exaggerated pronouncements on my professional record, I did not even bother to try to point out your own records. I felt that Aluko has no respect for the truth and it would not make any difference to him what the truth really was. Also, the fact that a lawyer was once suspended is not a fair basis to attack him for all purposes. Only Sowore, with an ulterior motive would do that.           Now, and the main reason for this mail, Aluko has been making fresh aspersions against me. He tries to say that I am suspended in DC and NY. Of course, Mark, you know that once I received a disciplinary sanction in Maryland, it was registered in all jurisdictions in which I was licensed, including, but not limited to, DC and New York. After a short period of suspension, I was eligible to automatic reinstatement, especially as there was no restitution order against me. In fact, I > was eligible for reinstatement in November of 2008. However, because of my other business engagements outside the United States at the time, I was never in a rush to become reinstated. My legal knowledge and my legal skills did not depend on being licensed in any particular state. If I had chosen to be reinstated in November of 2008, I would not have been in a suspended status in any jurisdiction in February and March of 2009 when your clients and Saharareporters began to assail on me on the ground that I was in suspension.In any event, when I decided to be reinstated, I did not go around reinstating myself in all jurisdictions where I was formally licensed. I only reinstated myself in those jurisdictions that I have time to practice law in. So, I haven’t had cause to try to reinstate myself in New York or DC. My hands are full with work in Maryland and other places that I am involved in. You know that no lawyer is ever licensed in all the states. As > a young man with a lot of energy, I was able to get licensure in several jurisdictions. Now, as 43-year old man, I do not have the time to practice law in all the states I was licensed in. I am more stable and settled now. I am based in Maryland. I am not preparing myself for employment in New York or such other places. I really have no need to seek to renew my licenses anywhere outside the present jurisdiction. Also, as you know, I am licensed in several federal jurisdictions and I am involved in things outside the U.S. So, what is the point of Aluko that I have not renewed my license in DC and NY? How does this story help Aluko? How does it address the stories about Blair. Further, you would recall that on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at the court house, you and I had some frank discussions. I conveyed to you my displeasure at the manner in which Aluko has been making all manner of false publications about this case. I also expressed my concerns about > the fact that you had not been able to control him. When I say control, I meant the need for a lawyer to guide his client on what is the proper way to behave to avoid escalation of dispute. The purpose of dispute resolution is to move from conflict to resolution. It is always dangerous to have a client who escalates a dispute. Even if that increases the fee of a lawyer, the lawyer still has a duty to direct his client toward reason and logic. You will specifically recall my phone conversation with you on April 21, 2010, when I discovered that you were the same guy I had met in Lagos three years ago, and that you were particularly courteous to me in Lagos.Just to refresh your memory, when I arrived at my hotel in Lagos in 2007, where you were already lodged, you recognized me as the Emeka Ugwuonye. You were so nice and generous with praises on me that I was even embarrassed. I was embarrassed at some point because you said to a number of people present > that I was the equivalent of a SAN in the Washington legal community. I felt particularly embarrassed because despite all the nonsense that have been written about me by Sowore, I never really liked to view myself in such a conceited prism. But I took your compliments as a genuine expression of affection and I tried to reciprocate those sentiments the. I believe that your mail below reflected that sentiment that we shared then. So, when on April 21, I discovered that you were the same Mark Sobo, I called you on the phone and offered to withdraw the case I had filed against Aluko. You and I discussed the need for peace. You promised to speak with Aluko on my offer to dismiss the case. You later advised me that Aluko refused to end the fight and that even if I withdrew mine, Aluko would go forward with his counter suit. I thought that was an extraordinary arrogance and strong-headedness on the part of Aluko. I later said to you that I believed that you > had not advised Aluko correctly on the balance of merits of this case. Otherwise, he would not be interested in prolonging a case that he would clearly lose (as far as his counter claim was concerned). In the face of Aluko’s obstinacy, the case continued beyond April.As the trial date approaches, it would seem that you were having the kind of difficulties I expected you would have with the case. Three weeks to trial, you filed a motion to postpone the trial. You said you were sick. I did not buy this excuse because I knew that Aluko had planned to travel overseas around the trial date. (Some “reliable sourcesâ€� told me that) I felt that was your reason for filing for postponement and since you did not want to be upfront about it, I opposed your motion for postponement. Your motion was denied, and we were directed to prepare for trial on July 27. Still faced with Aluko’s absence, and with 2 weeks to trial, you had to do something desperate, it > seemed. You then filed on July 8, 2010 two strange motions: Motion to stay and Motion for Summary Judgment. Because these motions would not ordinarily be ready for a ruling on them until after the trial date had come and gone, I felt that your motions were just a ploy to force the court to postpone the trial. This is especially because you filed a motion to stay. If you truly believed that your motion for summary judgment would prevail and that you filed it on time, you wouldn’t be filing for a stay. So, I did not bother to respond to your motions. Rather, I moved to strike them and I requested for immediate hearing on my motion to strike. On July 21, due probably to errors at the court’s assignment office, they scheduled your summary judgment motion (instead of my motion to strike) for hearing on the 23rd. Obviously because I did not file an affidavit in opposition to that motion (on purpose, of course), the court granted your summary judgment > motion. There and in the court house, you were so clearly shocked even by your own success. But I made it clear to you before I left the courthouse that I would move to reconsider the ruling and to go on appeal if needed.The same Friday, July 23, you were conferring with Sowore on how to make a news blast on what happened in the court. You didn’t even bother to tell Sowore the truth as to what I planned to do. Instead, obviously, you made it look as if Emeka Ugwuonye had been crushed by the strategic brilliance of Aluko’s legal team. Or maybe you did tell Sowore the truth. That would never have made any difference to a man with a consuming ambition to destroy Emeka Ugwuonye. As Sowore flashed the propaganda against me, all manner people, even those I had expected to be informed, if they were not themselves consumed by ethnic hatred, jumped to celebrate the great victory of Aluko over Emeka Ugwuonye. They even openly urged Aluko to go ahead and win > his counter claim and to claim huge damages against Emeka Ugwuonye. Now let’s look at Aluko’s counter claim against me, which was due for trial on July 27, 2010. From Sowore and his followers, it was a home run or an open season on Emeka Ugwuonye.When we got to court on July 27, 2010 for trial on Aluko’s counter claim that was to fetch him millions of dollars against me, it became clear that Aluko was not in town. Even though he had planned to arrive on July 26, 2010, he was stranded. You did not disclose this fact to me as we sat in the courthouse waiting to be assigned a judge. But I had arranged for Matto Akindana to be my witness. (I am sure people would laugh to hear that Matto would be my witness. But that is my secrete plan. Even Matto does not know how he could be a witness to help my case. And I haven’t told him how, even now). As we prepared to go in for trial, I knew I could ask for a continuance on the ground of the storm that had > caused power outages in my area for two days previously or I could go forward with trial (or now defense, as only Aluko’s counter claim was due for trial). I was not sure whether Aluko was coming or not because if he was not coming, I would immediately move for his case to be dismissed.You kept the fact that Aluko was stranded overseas close to your chest because you understood what I was going to do. You knew that I had had no electricity for the past two days and that I was going to move to postpone the case and you wanted me to do just that. At the same time, I did not want you to know exactly what I was thinking. So, I gave you the impression that once the judge came to the bench I was going to move for a postponement. But a minute before the judge came in; I stepped out and made a phone call. The call was to Matto. I knew that if Matto had not come to court where he was subpoenaed to be, it meant that he knew that Aluko was out of the country and > was not going to be in court. So, I called Matto to know where he was and it happened that Matto was at home. I got what I needed. I then put the question straight to Matto: “Where is Aluko?â€� Matto was forced to reveal that Aluko was still overseas. I came back into the courtroom and sat next to you and we continued smiling as the good friends that we are. However, you were surprised what happened when the case was called. Instead of asking for continuance as you had expected, I asked for Aluko’s case to be dismissed. You were shocked at the move. You protested to me and said this was why it was difficult to trust me. But you knew and I knew that there was no way to save Aluko’s case. It was out the window. However, I did feel (and this may be strange to many) some sense of guilt for having appeared to mislead you or trick you into believing that I was thinking only of postponing the case unless I saved him. To make you feel better, however, I > agreed to dismiss the case without prejudice even though I could have easily dismissed it with prejudice. I didn’t really see the difference. I was never threatened by Aluko’s case.Also, in order to make you feel better about what happened to Aluko’s case, I agreed not to let anyone know that Aluko’s case has been dismissed. You got a promise from me that that information would not appear anywhere in the chat-rooms. According to you, such news would cause Aluko a lot of embarrassment. (But why would Aluko be embarrassed by the truth? Is it not the same Aluko with his friend Sowore that has been telling everybody that they cared about the truth?). Again, in my efforts to calm down the nerves and minimize tension, I joined you in the plot to save Aluko the embarrassment of the truth of the dismissal of his case. While Aluko’s case was dead and while I was keeping quite about it, Sowore and Aluko were attacking me and you could not stop them. > They continued to talk of how they would make money from me out of Aluko’s counter suit. One guy who read that nonsense even sent an internet mail urging Aluko to just go and get his money out of the “deadâ€� case. The same guy even posed the question: What would have happened if Emeka Ugwuonye had won the case?â€� He didn’t know that I didn’t really lose the case in the sense of Aluko being victorious.Continui ng with his campaign, Aluko issued a statement today, which was forwarded to me. In it Aluko claims that the charters to my companies are forfeited. Under normal circumstances, what is Aluko’s business with the charters of companies in Maryland? Aluko is supposed to be a professor of engineering minding his research and teaching work. Now, Aluko and Sowore are digging into my companies to see what dirt they could find. Maybe, the world will be reading tomorrow Saharareporters bombshell “Emeka Ugwuonye’s Company Charter Forfeitedâ€�. > They shouldn’t bother at all. They can just ask me and I would inform them. But when others begin to dig into you own companies, Aluko’s companies, Aluko’s family companies, Aluko’s academic publications, Blair’s companies, Saharareporters advertising customers and revenues and other moneys that come into Saharareporters accounts and their sources, you will scream and get upset and Aluko would begin to say that there is no connection between him and you and Blair. When will you learn and when will Aluko rest? When will Sowore realize that finally he has met one Nigerian who does not fear him and who would not be blackmailed by him? Aluko’s fresh stories actually complicate things for him. For instance, Aluko just said that Blair never signed any pleadings in his case. You know that’s false. Blair signed pleadings for Aluko. When you, Mark, had not renewed your license for the federal court, the same Aluko sent out a mail explaining how > Blair was there to motion you in. You know that. You also know that you would not have been able to enter your appearance for Aluko in the federal court when you did, had it not been that you tagged along with Blair, who alone in your team had the requisite license at that time. You know also that Aluko’s case is still pending in the federal court. You have an open motion their. You know that even as I write this, Blair is still an attorney of record for Aluko in the federal court because Blair never withdrew his appearance. So, can Aluko simply shut and let’s see of there could be peace in the land again?I end by wishing you well. If you remain Aluko’s lawyer going forward, I would say that I look forward to seeing you again soon. If not, I would say I still look forward to sharing a drink with you as we promised we would. No amount of Aluko would take away the friendship you showed to me when we met in Lagos. You are really a good guy despite > our fights in court. I understand that Aluko came to you willing to pay his last penny to fight me. A lawyer is always at liberty to work for a man willing to pay his last penny for a lawsuit. But when this story is finally told, remember that I was not the one that kept Aluko in court. It was Aluko who refused to bury the hatchet when I offered that to him in April. It is a pity that he lacked the sense of reality, as has been repeatedly shown in his premature celebrations of victory. Please note that in light of Aluko’s continued aspersions of me, I am no longer obligated to not say a word about the dismissal of his counter suit. I am sorry if you feel bad about it. I am sure you will understand that Aluko left me no choiceâ€�, added, Emeka Ugwuonye.             As questions continue to be asked about Aluko and his lawyers, RepublicReport. com went to check out a few facts about Aluko and Blair, readers must know that credible sources > have raised concern about Aluko’s source of income, including questionable character of Sam Aluko his father who worked for “SATANICâ€� Abacha’s military regime, Mr. Sam Aluko continues today, to defend Abacha, regardless of the fact that Sani Abacha was no longer around, telling those who want to listen that, “Abacha was the best thing that happened to Nigeriaâ€�, reports say.For record Sam Aluko also worked as economic adviser to Chief Awolowo under criminal genocidal government Gowon in the 60s that give war ravaged Biafrans 20 pounds regardless of what you have in the bank account/s. Again, how does Bolaji Aluko’s legitimate income support his lifestyle?  Some commentators say, â€�the father still sends money to Bolaji Aluko…so, he still live off his fathers stolen wealth from petro-dollars from former Eastern region…â€�, this commentator who spoke on condition of anynmity because didn’t want to be identified because of the > sensitivity and emotions surrounding Biafra/Nigeria war 1967 to 1970, â€� he added.The same questioned is raised about convicted criminal Walter Blair. Credible sources alleged that â€�Mr. Aluko leaks government secrets to SR..and usually turns around and comments on them when published by Mr. Soworeâ€�, sources told RR. Our source further discovered that the massive corruption of Nigeria government officials at home and abroad is astounding to say the least. Argument is that if there is anybody to raise questions about someone’s credibility, they say not Aluko/SR since they work hand and glove with a convicted criminal Walter Blair who is already serving jail-term since March 2010. Sources told RR that “the campaign against Ugwuonye and his firm is out of jealousy and envyâ€� reports concluded.Below is additional communication RR discovered as it researched the roots and relationship with between Blair/Bolaji/ Sobo/Sowore/ SR.One thing is > certain in these allegationsâ€"Aluko/Blair/ Sobo/Sowore have all associated in circumstances that raise serious questions about the morality and even criminality of each of them in this litigation war.These shocking discoveries are discovering, especially “for one who project credibility to have a lawyer who is a convicted criminal is just like â€�kettle calling pot blackâ€�. Some legal analysts asked, “What sort of legal advice would you expect Blair to have given Aluko over the time that they have had attorney-client relationship…..â€� Sources say, “Probably advise to Aluko to treat the law as he himself would criminallyâ€"breaking and fixing committed crimes for their won gains including aiding and abetting drag barons, etc, “, it added. Eyewitnesses and observers say, the fundamental problem about the relationship and association between Bolaji Aluko and Walter Blair remains questionable. In the same vein, what sort of conferencing and > advice did Sobo receive from his colleague and co-counsel, Walter Blair? What sort of communication occurred between Sowore and these people over the period since they began their fight against Ugwuonye?In addition, an allegation about having a relationship with convicted criminal who counsels how to commit crimes without being detected needs explanations. Even if these are allegations, certainty, one wonders what transpired between these four individualsâ€"Blair/Bolaji/ Sobo/Sowore over the years.RR learnt that “it is a distinct probability that any relationship between these four men is less than honorableâ€�.Curiously Aluko’s effort to distance himself from Blair “Is as childish as it is futile sourcesâ€� told RR. Again, our source told RR, that “Blair was indicted and was facing trial for these crimes before Aluko engaged him in the case against Emeka Ugwuonye. Sobo, himself not a convict, had major problems with the bar well before the time > that Aluko commenced his alleged “campaign of calumny against Emeka Ugwuonye latching unto Ugwuonye’s disciplinary record that seems actually much better than Sobo’sâ€�, reports revealed.Aluko a tenured professor at Howard University and a regular commentator at many Nigeria forums have many explanations to do about these discredited relationships. Our source added, “It is unlikely that Aluko would hire a lawyer out of the yellow pages. Essentially it is more likely, he would hire a lawyer that he has been familiar with and had prior relationship with over the yearsâ€�, it added. So what did Mr. Aluko know about Blair [a convicted criminal] and when did he know?A commentator added, “When Aluko went to Blair in his case against Ugwuonye, it would seem that Aluko was practically putting to work the services of an old friend or an old associate with whom he has been well-knownâ€� it added. Therefore, what is the precise prior relationship between > Aluko and Blair? What did they have in common? People wants to know.Indeed, Aluko has tried to answer these questions in his most recent written statement. Sources say “The only problem is that he is not forth coming in answering these questions, Aluko just simply docked themâ€�, adding “ we are not surprised at his DEALING… it is like father like sonâ€� impeccable reports alleged.For instance, he said that “Blair never signed any court documents on his behalfâ€�, but he is not showing legal papers that showed that the convicted criminal has withdrawn his legal services till date. It seems “this is a blatant lie and fallacyâ€� our source who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, added.Our source who is knowledgeable about the case added, “The truth, on the contrary, is that Blair was the attorney who entered appearance in Aluko’s case last yearâ€"2009, as Mr. Sobo himself could not enter appearance in that court because he was not > licensed as at the time of 2009 litigationâ€� it added.RR learnt, “It was Blair that filed the motion to dismiss on behalf of Aluko at the federal court. That motion led to Ugwuonye’s decision to voluntarily dismiss the case at the federal court.Sources told RR that “Aluko’s principal lawyer in the federal court is Blairâ€�, adding “I use the present tense because Blair is still listed as Aluko’s lawyer, even several months after Blair commenced his 8-year prison sentenceâ€� adding, “Blair never withdrew his appearance as Aluko’s lawyer. Sobo never sought to strike the appearance of Blair as Aluko’s lawyer. There is no reason to believe that Mr. Blair ever stopped being the brain behind Aluko’s defense in the ongoing litigation case. As in a typical attorney-client relationship, Aluko would have stayed in touch with Blair throughout the timeâ€�, reports concluded.  From our investigation there is every indication that Sowore was > working in concert with Aluko, and Aluko’s lawyers. RR learnt that “The dramatic fashion in which he got some information about the Aluko’s case last week betrayed the close interaction between him, Aluko and Aluko’s lawyersâ€�. Sources added, “Given the distinct probability of Sowore consorting with Blair, questions ought to be raised about Sowore’s true intentions or even credibilityâ€�. AS RR asked above, how come that Mr. Sowore felt comfortable with the criminal status of Aluko’s principal lawyer and the checkered ethical past of Mr. Sobo and only writes and talks about Ugwuonye?Legal experts asked, “Is this not the same Sowore who claimed last year, based on thin evidence, that Emeka Ugwuonye was unfit to perform his work as counsel to Nigerian Embassy based on a sanction he received from the bar?…â€�.The question then is “Where is Sowore’s morality? Where is his sense of truth and balance, where is his credibilityâ€� it > added. Since he told RR that “I can’t published everything…since you have RepublicReport outfit you can publish areas SR couldn’t cover… we are fighting against corruption, we fought together against Abacha regimeâ€� Sowore told RR.In our discoveries, Ugwuonye told RR that he maintained that “he and Sowore had a running in the past which was based on the fact that some “clients of Ugwuonye’s had complained to him about certain blackmail from Soworeâ€�, RR is still investiging…. According to his complaint, which he stated in the court records, Ugwuonye moved to protect his clients from Sowore, who then decided to teach Ugwuonye a lessonâ€�, RR is not conversant with these stories but thinks that it is up to SR/Sowore to “defend himself as he stated this morning as RR interviewed him… when it contacted him for explanations and verifications on these allegations. Balanced journalism is appropriate by those who present themselves > in the field of investigative journalism or something in that province.Mr. Sowore admitted to RR that “I never studied journalism I am just doing my bestâ€�,he added. RR, also told SR that I didn’t study journalism, RR is doing its best, too, but added, â€�credibility and honor works together not the other way around,â€� RR added. However, RR told Sowore, “well if you will be writing then be ready to be tested with truthsâ€"everybody’s statements and writings will be eventually be tested given time, space and place.Blair/ Bolaji/Sobo/ Sowore’s case vs. Nigerian-Washington -based lawyer Ugwuonye would be tested over time.RepublicReport’s bombshell last week was part of that test. Credibility of these individuals Blair/Bolaji/ Sobo/Sowore is been questioned today, and the alleged hasty conflicted news against Ugwuonye in this ongoing case is questionableâ€"it is looking less credible each day, than the time when they were initially > reported by, SR.For instance, RR learnt that allegedly, “no court made any of these pronouncements that Sowore reported were made against Ugwuonyeâ€� and that “SR/Sowore reported Summary Judgment of July 23, 2010â€� but refused or ignored to report that Aluko’s counter litigation against Ugwuonye was dismissed on July 26, 2010 that makes it look more like a propaganda rather than true journalistic reporting. Balanced journalism will give fair chance to all parties’ involved not belated publication this morning Monday August 2, 2010; by SR/So
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