Akwa Ibom State persons involved in the N1.4 billion alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC may be having sleepless nights as Monday, December 10, 2018 is fixed for their arraignment in Federal High Court, Lagos.
The anti-corruption has filed a criminal money laundering charge against Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, with alleging fraud of N1.4 billion.
In the suit marked FHC/418c/18 filed before Justice Muslim Hassan, the anti-graft agency alleged that Usoro, who hails from Akwa Ibom state, laundered the money in connivance with Udom Emmanuel, the state governor.
Udom was not listed as a defendant in the charge, as EFCC indicated that he is “currently constitutionally immuned against criminal prosecution.”
Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to EFCC, said the offence was committed sometime in 2015 within the jurisdiction of the court and that the N1.4 billion belonged to the state government.
Oyedepo added that the offence was contrary to section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
The following people were mentioned in the charge: Nsikan Nkan, described as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State; Mfon Udomah, described as the Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State; one Uwemedimo Nwoko, described as the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; and Margaret Ukpe, all of whom were alleged to be at large.
However, serious concerns are raised why some officials in the line of duty were bypassed in the financial transaction.
“During this time, Akan Okon was the Commissioner for Finance but the name of Nsikan Nkan is shown as the commissioner. By this time, Nkan was the state Accountant-General but Mfon Udomah who was Deputy Director, Cash Control is listed as the state Accountant General,” a source in the Ministry of Finance confided in Straightnews.
Usoro, who was alleged to be in connivance with the others mentioned above, conspired among themselves to commit the offence sometime in 2015 “within the jurisdiction of this honourable court”.
The offences alleged to have been committed by the NBA President was contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punished under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Usoro, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was elected NBA president in August 2018.
