By Gabriel Atumeyi
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged and acquitted Paul Usoro, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Barr Association (NBA), of charges of N1.4bn money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed the money charges against Usoro.
Ruling on the ‘no case’ submission on Friday, Justice Rilwan Aikawa held the EFCC failed to establish any prima facie case against Usoro that could warrant him to enter a defence.
He noted that the penal code, under which the NBA chieftain was charged, is not applicable to southern states, i.e Lagos and Akwa-Ibom, which were said to be the locations of the alleged offenses.
“On the whole, I hold that the prosecution has failed to establish any prima facie case. Accordingly, the defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted,” Justice Aikawa held, The Nation quoted Justice Aikawa.
Mr Usoro had on February 25, filed a no-case submission where his counsel Effiong O. Effiong SAN contended that the EFCC called only two witnesses and closed its case because they knew they did not have any case against his client.
Effiong prayed the court to allow the no-case submission, however, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo opposed, urging the court to dismiss it saying the EFCC had overwhelming evidence.
The EFCC arraigned Usoro on December 18, 2018, before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge.
The case was transferred and subsequently, Usoro was re-arraigned before Justice Aikawa on allegations that he committed the offence on May 14, 2016.
The anti-graft agency had indicted the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, but did not arraign him because he was “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution”.
The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mfon Udomah; the Akwa Ibom Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko, and Margaret Ukpe were also indicted.
As the case progressed, Usoro denied his involvement in any crime.