N1.4bn fraud: NBA president docked, pleads not guilty

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Paul Usoro (SAN) has been docked before the Federal High Court, Lagos over alleged N1.4billion fraud.

Usoro was docked before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) but pleaded not guilty Usoro’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had earlier expressed his opposition to his client’s arraignment over the criminal charge.

He drew the judge’s attention to a letter written by the NBA president to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul-Kafarati seeking the transfer of the case from the court.

“I owe a duty to advise the court that the defendant made available to his lawyers, a copy of a letter dated 17th December 2018, addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court praying for the transfer of the case to any judicial Division between Uyo and Abuja or if in Lagos to any other judge apart from my lord presiding.

“The application is very innocuous and was written by virtue of the legal right of the defendant.
“We understand that a copy of the letter has been served on the court and since the letter is before the Chief Judge, the proper thing is to await his decision as a mark of respect for him”, the silk said.

Responding, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to discountenance Olanipekun’s submissions.
He said the ruling of the court fixing yesterday for the arraignment of the defendant has not been set aside.
He was of the view that the defence can only raise any objection after the plea of the defendant has been taken.

“It was not the contention of the defence that the ingredient of the alleged offence did not take place in Lagos. The events that will lead to the transfer of the case to either the Uyo or Abuja Division are not available”, he said.
In a ruling on the contentious issue, the judge held that arraigning the defendant will not preclude the Chief Judge from taking a decision on the letter.

He thereafter ordered that the charge is read to the defendant.
Afterward, Usoro’s lawyer, Chief Olanipekun (SAN) moved his bail application. He urged the court to admit his client to bail on self-recognizance.

In the absence of any opposition from the EFCC, the judge admitted Usoro to bail in the sum of N250 million with one surety who must not be below the rank of a Director in the public service in like.

Justice Hassan also ordered Usoro to deposit his international passport to the court.
Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned to 5 February 5, 2019.