A federal high court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted
Paul Usoro, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), of the
money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
Ruling on a no-case submission filed by the senior advocate
of Nigeria (SAN), Rilwan Aikawa, presiding judge, held that the charges against
the defendant were defective as they did not disclose offences known to both
Lagos and Akwa Ibom states.
The EFCC had accused Usoro of laundering N1.4bn belonging to
Akwa Ibom, his state of origin.
Although initially arraigned on a 10-count charge, a court of appeal had struck out four of the counts in which Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom state governor, was mentioned.
Usoro had pleaded not guilty to the charges after which the
EFCC called two witnesses and tendered some documents to prove the charges.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, Usoro, rather than
enter his defence, filed a no-case submission, through his legal team, headed
by Effiong Effiong.
He contended that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie
case against him to warrant him to put in any defence.
The court agreed with the defendant’s argument and
discharged him.
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