Alleged N1.4bn Fraud: Court Adjourns NBA President, Paul Usoro’s Trial To Mar 23

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Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in
Ikoyi, Lagos, has adjourned until March 23, 2020 further hearing in the alleged
N1.4bn fraud trial involving the President of the Nigerian Bar Association,
Paul Usoro, SAN.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC first
arraigned Usoro before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court on December 18,
2018.

He was later re-arraigned on March 1, 2019 before Justice
Aikawa on a 10-count charge.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Paul Usoro, SAN,
Emmanuel Udom (currently constitutionally immune against criminal prosecution),
Uwemedimo Thomas Nwoko (still at large), Nsikan Linus Nkan, Commissioner of
Finance, Akwa Ibom State (still at large), Mfon Jacobson Udomah,
Accountant-General, Akwa Ibom State (still at large) and Margaret Thompson Ukpe
(still at large) sometime in 2015 in Nigerian, within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit:
conversion of the sum of N1,410,000,000.00 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ten
Million Naira), property of the Government of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, which
sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an
unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act,
2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Usoro pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred
against him by the EFCC.

At the resumed sitting today, March 9, 2020, the first
prosecution witness, Idongesit Udom, Deputy Manager, Zenith Bank Plc, was
cross-examined by the defence counsel, Offiong E.B. Offiong, SAN.

Udom, under cross-examination, told the court that she and one
Irene Akpabio were the Relationship Managers of the account of the firm
belonging to the defendant.

She said: “I made the first statement to the EFCC on July
12, 2018 and the second on July 19, 2018.”

According to her, the defendant, his staff and her exchanged
a series of emails.

Udom also told the court that no email was sent to the
defendant informing him that there was a payment of the sum of N300m or any
email or even letter to him by the bank informing him that the sum of N300m was
paid into the his account.

“Irene Akpabio was the person designated by Zenith Bank to
go and make statement with the EFCC in respect of the this case.

“This is due to the fact that she and Irene were the
Relationship Managers of the defendant’s account.

“In its invitation to Zenith Bank, the EFCC asked for the
account officer of the defendant, who happened to be Irene Akpabio,” she
further told the court.

When asked if she could produce the letter of invitation
from the EFCC, she answered in the affirmative.

Justice Aikawa, thereafter, adjourned until March 23, 2020
and  April 21 and 22, 2020 for
continuation of cross-examination.