On social media, Henry Iwenofu uses the name Nubia Bukas. When asked, he’ll tell you that it is a reference to a restaurance he once operated on Delmar, Nubia Cafe. In a 2008 review in Sauce Magazine, Iwenofu described it as “a place to enjoy international music and upscale West African-Caribbean fusion cuisine.” Sauce gave it mixed reviews, panning some dishes while praising the soup. They also complained of suffering ” ill-timed meals, slow drink orders or long waits between courses.”
Iwenofu incorporated Nubia Group Inc., the state filing for his restaurant, in August 2007. It was administratively dissolved by the secretary of state in 2009, for failure to file the required annual report. A new corporation by the same name was filed in August 2010. That corporation was dissolved in 2011, again for failure to file the annual report.
In August 2010, Delmar Laurel LLC filed suit against Nubia Group in a “rent and possession” case. Five months later, the court entered a judgment for $43,505, and ordered possession of the restaurant to be returned to the owner. Iwenofu filed for a trial de novo in January 2011. The case was set for trial in late March. The attorney for Delmar Laurel appeared for trial, but Iwenofu did not, and the judgment was reinstated. Two days after failing to appear for the trial, an attorney, Rita Kazembe, entered an appearance for Nubia Group, and asked for a continuance. Per the court records, “Clerk tried contacting attorney Rita Kazembe, due to dismissal that was entered by the Court on 03/29/11 for defendant failing to appear, but could not find any working numbers, for counsel.”
Nubia Cafe is also one of the liable parties in a judgment arising from a 2014 federal case. That case claimed that in 2011, Nubia Cafe unlawfully played a televised boxing match in their restaurant, without paying for the commercial right to do so. The judgment in that case amounted to $17,900, with 9% interest until it is paid. Somehow, this was registered in Missouri court as a foreign judgment of $172,995. Online court records are insufficient to determine whether this is an error, or whether there additional federal judgments.
