EFCC Re-Arraigns NBA President, As Court Orders Arrest Of Akwa Ibom AG, Others
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned the President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Paul Usoro (SAN) before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly laundering the sum N1.4bn belonging to the Akwa Ibom State government.
The EFCC claimed that Usoro converted and laundered the money in connivance with the governor of his state, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
Also during Friday’s proceedings, Justice Aikawa ordered the arrest of the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko and the Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan.
The judge further ordered the arrest of the state’s Accountant General, Mfon Udomah and the cashier at the Akwa Ibom State Government House, Margaret Ukpe.
The court ordered the arrest of the state’s officials after an application to that effect moved by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo.
Justice Aikawa directed that the four state officials must be produced before him on March 18 by security agents.
The names of the officials had appeared in the N1.4 bn fraud charges filed by the commission Usoro but they were listed as persons at large.
The EFCC, in the charge, claimed that Usoro in connivance with the others mentioned in the charge conspired among themselves to commit the offence sometime in 2015 within the jurisdiction of the honourable court.
The EFCC also maintained that the N1.4 billion allegedly converted and laundered by the defendants belonged to the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The commission insisted that offence is contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
EFCC also said Usoro was paid with Awka Ibom State’s funds for legal services he rendered in his personal capacity to Udom, who was then a governorship candidate but is now a governor.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Aikawa is the third judge to handle the case after both Justices Muslim Hassan and Chuka Obiozor, of the same court, had withdrawn.
