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Cases No. 4:10cr19-RH and 4:10cv401-RH/EMT

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

v. CASES NO. 4:10cr19-RH

 4:10cv401-RH/EMT

GODFREY ONUGHA,

Defendant.

_______________________________/

ORDER DENYING THE § 2255 MOTION

The defendant has moved under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 for relief from his 

judgment of conviction. The motion is before the court on the magistrate judge’s 

report and recommendation, ECF No. 51, and the objections, ECF No. 52. I have 

reviewed de novo the issues raised by the objections. This order accepts the report 

and recommendation and denies the § 2255 motion.

A defendant may appeal the denial of a § 2255 motion only if the district 

court or court of appeals issues a certificate of appealability. Under 28 U.S.C. 

§ 2253(c)(2), a certificate of appealability may issue “only if the applicant has 

made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” Miller-El v. 
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Cases No. 4:10cr19-RH and 4:10cv401-RH/EMT

Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335-38 (2003); Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 

(2000); Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n.4 (1983); see also Williams v. 

Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 402-13, 120 S. Ct. 1495, 146 L. Ed. 2d 389 (2000) (setting 

out the standards applicable to a § 2254 petition on the merits). As the Court said 

in Slack:

To obtain a COA under § 2253(c), a habeas prisoner must make 

a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, a 

demonstration that, under Barefoot, includes showing that reasonable 

jurists could debate whether (or, for that matter, agree that) the 

petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the 

issues presented were “adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed 

further.” 

Slack, 529 U.S. at 483-84 (quoting Barefoot, 463 U.S. at 893 n.4). Further, in 

order to obtain a certificate of appealability when dismissal is based on procedural 

grounds, a petitioner must show, “at least, that jurists of reason would find it 

debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional 

right and that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the district court 

was correct in its procedural ruling.” Slack, 529 U.S. at 484. 

The defendant has not made the required showing. This order thus denies a 

certificate of appealability. Because the defendant has not obtained—and is not 

entitled to—a certificate of appealability, any appeal by the defendant will not be 

taken in good faith. I certify under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 24(a) that 
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Cases No. 4:10cr19-RH and 4:10cv401-RH/EMT

any appeal will not be taken in good faith and that the defendant is not otherwise 

entitled to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED:

1. The clerk must enter a judgment stating, “The defendant’s motion for 

relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is DENIED.

2. The defendant’s application for a certificate of appealability is DENIED.

3. Leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis is DENIED.

SO ORDERED on June 11, 2013.

s/Robert L. Hinkle

United States District Judge