NBA Chairman charged to court over alleged N1.4bn fraud

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), has been charged before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over an alleged fraud of N1.4bn.

Usoro was charged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The charge sheet, marked FHC/418c/18, was filed before Justice Muslim Hassan.

According to the EFCC,  Usoro converted and laundered the money in connivance with the Governor of his state, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.

Emmanuel was however not listed as a defendant in the charge, as the EFCC indicated that he is “currently constitutionally immune against criminal prosecution”.

Also mentioned in the body of the charges were one Nsikan Nkan, described as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State; one Mfon Udomah, described as the Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State; one Uwemedimo Nwoko, described as the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; and Margaret Ukpe, all of whom were said to be at large.

The EFCC claimed that Usoro in connivance with the others mentioned conspired among themselves to commit the offence sometime in 2015 “within the jurisdiction of this honourable court”.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.4bn allegedly converted and laundered by the defendants belonged to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

The judge fixed December 10, 2018, for the arraignment of the NBA President.