Ladipo Sanusi/
Justice (Professor) Chuka Austin Obiozor of a Federal High Court in Lagos today ‘recused’ himself in trying the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Paul Usoro, who is charged before the Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Obiozor is the second judge withdrawing from the trial following Justice Muslim Sule Hassan’s withdrawal.
Usoro was at first arraigned before Justice Hassan of the same court, on December 18, 2018, on a 10-count charge bordering on N1.4 billion fraud.
Others named in the charge are: the incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom, who is described in the charge as being “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution”, the Akwa Ibom State’s Commissioner for Finance, Accountant-General and Attorney-General, Nsikan Nkan; Mfon Udomah, Uwemedimo Nwoko and Margaret Ukpe respectively, who were allegedly at large.
The EFCC in a charge marked FHC/418c/18, alleged that the accused committed the offence on May 14, 2016, adding that Usoro conspired with others to commit the offence within the jurisdiction of the court.
He was accused of conspiring to convert the sum of N1.4 billion, property of Akwa Ibom State Government, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity
The prosecution through his lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, had told the Court that the offence is a breach of trust which contravenes the provisions of section 15 (2), 15(3), and 18 (A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011
Usoro had pleaded not guilty to the charge and he was admitted to bail in the sum of N250 million with one surety in like sum.
However, Justice Hassan washed off his hands from the matter and returned the case file to the Court’s Chief Judge (CJ), for reassignment, following calls on the judge to withdraw from the matter on the ground that he was formerly EFCC’s legal officer.
Upon returning the case file to the CJ, the matter was reassigned to Justice Obiozor.
At the resumed hearing of the case today, before the plea of the defendant was taken, Justice Obiozor said: “For personal reason, I’m recusing myself from hearing this matter. I’m returning the case file to the Chief Judge of this Court for reassignment.”
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