Court postpones NBA president arraignment
The Federal High Court in Lagos has postponed the arraignment of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro,till December 18, 2018,
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last Friday filed a 10-count charge against Usoro over an alleged N1.4bn fraud.
“Indeed, the EFCC had invited Usoro in June this year, to explain his role regarding the inflow of N300 million from the Akwa Ibom State Government’s Account into the account of Paul Usoro Chambers, PUC,” EFCC’s acting Spokesman Tony Orilade said on Friday.
“Usoro was also questioned on the aggregate inflow of N1, 110,000,000 from the state government’s account into the bank account of PUC,” he added.
Usoro was represented in court on Monday by a former NBA President, Wole Olanipekun, who led 12 other Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
The arraignment before Justice Muslim Hassan could not hold as Usoro, through his defence counsel, told the court he was yet to receive charge sheet from EFCC.
Olanipekun stated that his client honoured the court despite not being served with the charge sheet, adding that he was ready to accept the service of the charge sheet in the courtroom.
But the prosecuting counsel for the anti-graft agency Rotimi Oyedepo, said he was not in a position to serve the charge sheet on Usoro, as the charge sheet was with the EFCC investigative office.
Justice Hassan, therefore, directed the EFCC to ensure the service of the charge sheet on Usoro and postponed the arraignment to December 18.
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