Alleged N1.4bn fraud: NBA president’s arraignment stalled

The arraignment of the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro, before the Federal High in Lagos, for alleged N1.4bn money laundering, was stalled yesterday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to serve him charges of the alleged crime.

The trial Judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, then adjourned proper arraignment to December 18 when the anti-graft agency would have been able to show court evidence of service of the charges on the NBA president.

Usoro had arrived the court premises before 8:00AM and when the court resumed for business, former NBA president, Wole Olanipekun, led 12 other Senior Advocates of Nigeria for defence team in protest as they objected to Usoro’s arraignment.

Olanipekun insisted that under the Nigerian law, no arraignment could take place until Usoro was served with the charges in accordance with the law, stressing that the court of law is not a place for a hideand-seek game.

Leading the prosecution on behalf of the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo agreed the defendant had not been served with the charges, saying that was because he had not made himself available for service.

Oyedepo promised that the defendant would be served definitely before the next adjourned date.

There was, however, a mild drama in the court premises immediately after the adjournment of the case, as operatives of the anti-graft agency attempted to arrest Usoro.

This was resolved by the intervention of both the prosecution and the defence teams who agreed amicably that Usoro should go directly to the EFCC’s office in Ikoyi on his own following the EFCC’s invitation.