N1.4bn fraud: NBA President, Paul Usoro, granted N250m bail

Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, admitted the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), 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 sum. This followed his arraignment on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 10-count charge bordering on N1.4 billion fraud. Justice Hassan also ordered the NBA president to deposit his international passport with the court and subsequently adjourned further hearing in the matter to 5th February, 2019. Usoro, who arrived the court at exactly 8:35am was docked before Justice Hassan on a 10-count charge bordering on N1.4 billion fraud, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts. 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. But, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to discountenance Olanipekun’s submissions. He said the ruling of the court fixing Tuesday for the arraignment of the defendant has not been set aside. He said 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 Uyo or Abuja Division are not available”, he said. However, the judge held that arraigning the defendant will not preclude the Chief Judge from taking decision on the letter. He, thereafter, ordered that the charge be read to the defendant. Afterwards, Usoro’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) moved his bail application. He urged the court to admit his client to bail on self-recognisance. 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 sum. Justice Hassan also ordered the NBA president to deposit his international passport with the court and subsequently adjourned further hearing in the matter to 5th February, 2019. Peter Fowoyo