Fraud: Ex-NBA president Paul Usoro to file no-case submission

Paul-Usoro

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has closed its case in the ongoing alleged N1.4billion fraud trial of a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Paul Usoro.

EFCC counsel Uduak Kufre on Thursday told Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos that the prosecution was pleased with the evidence it adduced so far in the case.

He prayed the court to discharge the agency’s second and last witness Mohammed Arabo.

Usoro’s counsel Effiong Effiong informed the court of the defendant’s intention to file a no case submission.

Justice Aikawa adjourned till March 12, 2021, for adoption of the no-case submission.

Usoro was arraigned for the alleged offence on December 18, 2018, before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court.

He was re-arraigned on March 1, 2019 on a 10-count charge bordering on laundering money for Akwa Ibom State Government officials to the tune of N1.4billion.

The EFCC says Usoro and others committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.