Police hunt finance chief over Ujima ‘fraud’
Police have appealed for help tracking down the former finance director of failed housing association Ujima, who has gone on the run.
George Avwunu, 50, of Purley, Surrey, is suspected of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud Ujima of £200,000.
In November last year, fraud detectives charged a housewife and a consultant with money laundering following a 17-month investigation into suspected fraud at Ujima.
At the time they said they were hunting a third man, who skipped bail in May 2008. They have now confirmed that man is Mr Avwunu, who was the chief finance officer of Ujima. The association was taken over by London & Quadrant in January 2008 after recording multi-million pound losses.
Mr Avwunu’s wife, Rose Avwunu, 53, of Purley, Surrey and consultant Paul Campagne, 46, of Coulsdon, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to nine counts of money laundering at a plea and case management hearing held at Southwark Crown Court in January. They were ordered to stand trial on 17 January 2011.
Three other people were arrested and released without charge in connection with the investigation.
Mr Avwunu was first arrested in March 2008, and released on bail.Police began to investigate Ujima in February 2008 after Reading East MP Rob Wilson asked them to examine concerns about criminal activity raised by whistleblowers at the housing association.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said enquiries were ongoing. Anyone with information should call 020 7230 1551 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Readers' comments (3)
Peter | 18/04/2010 11:50 am
At best, the Ujima saga is keystone cops stuff!!!
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Danny | 26/04/2010 5:54 pm
I think the whole thing is a tragedy.
I worked there for some years before the debacle and the team that caused it.
In contrast to the picture painted by headlines about fraud and mismanagement, a great many people worked very hard; early starts, late finishes and coming in on weekends - because of their belief in the ideals of what was an excellent organisation.
This hard work was done due solely to their professionalism and commitment; no overtime having been payable.
Staff in Ujima's care homes for the elderly and mentally ill were particularly praiseworthy.
I am proud to have been a part of it and feel that something special has been lost to the community.
Just so sad
D
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j a | 03/06/2010 9:43 am
This investigation does not surprise me on little bit. I was a tenant of Ujima. I was put through hell, regards to missing housing benefit payments. Housing benefit made a number of payments directly to ujima, yet Ujima failed to add them to my rent account. I went to the CAB and solictors to dispute them, but Ujima were able to convice them that they had added the HB payments and the debt was mine. They sent threating letters to evite me and my family and i went through hell, try to get someone to listen to me and proof i was right. I went to HB and was told there was nothng they could do as they made the payment and gave me proof, HB to me to go back to Ujima and visa vera. If i remember correctly i given contacted the fraud team and was adviced to go to the police.
But without direct proof, i decided to find the proof myself. i think it was in 2008, and 5 years continuing from my first rent arrears i contact Housing Benefit and spoke to a lovely lady, i explained my problem and she adviced me to request a full and consits Housing Benefit state for the periods i was disputing and compare them to my ujima rent statement. to cut a long story short, i found a number of missing HB payments not added to my rent account. I sent my finding to Ujima, but they told me those payments were added other places on my rent statement, i cried. I nearly gave up trying to proof my case, but for my family and a roof over our head i coutinued. I wanted to proof Ujima, CAB and solictors were being wrong. And i did
L&Q took over, they set out a more reader able rent statement, i compared it with the housing benefit statement and found there were more missing HB payments than i taught. i listed the missing payments sent them to Housing benefit with a copy of my easy to read L&Q rent statement. HB comfimed them in writing i sent them to L&Q and my rent account was credited with the missing payments.
I was over the mood, but any the same time, i had to spared a thought for any tenants who lost there homes, because they were not able to proof there case.
If you don't get Housing Benefit, My advice is to pay your rent by standing order or direct debit.
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