Onunwor was born in
Port Harcourt,
Rivers State,
Nigeria where he attended primary and secondary schools. In 1980, he immigrated to the United States where he earned a B.A. and M.A. in urban studies at
Cleveland State University. In the November 2001 general election, running as a Republican, he was re-elected with 71.19% of the vote defeating Democrat
Eric J. Brewer (who would later win election as mayor in 2005). he resigned on September 1, 2004. In September 2005, he was
sentenced by U.S. District Court judge
James S. Gwin to nine years in prison. At sentencing, Onunwor stated: "I apologize to my family, my friends and the citizens...I did wrong. I deserve to be punished. ==Personal life==