A Federal High Court Lagos has on Thursday further adjourned hearing in the alleged N1.4billion fraud case filed against President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Usoro before Justice Rilwan Aikawa on 10 counts bordering fraud.
He was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan in December 2018, but the case was re-assigned to Justice Rilwan Aikawa. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges before Hassan, and also maintained his not guilty plea before Aikawa, and was granted bail. The continuation of trial which was earlier fixed for Thursday has now been further adjourned, as Justice Aikawa did not sit.
A new date, however, is yet to be fixed for continuation of trial. Also mentioned in the charge, is the incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom, who is described as being “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution”. Others mentioned are: the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah; the Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko, who the EFCC alleged are at large.
