The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State , Udom Emmanuel , spent state funds to hire many Senior Advocates of Nigeria to represent him at the election tribunal where his electoral victory as governor was being challenged in 2015 .
An investigating officer of the EFCC , Abdulraman Arabo , told the court that the governor hired the immediate – past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro ( SAN ) , who , in turn, invited other SANs to join him , and that the N1 . 4 bn legal fee paid to the SANs was drawn from the treasury of the Akwa Ibom State ’ s account .
Arabo said this at the resumed money laundering trial of Usoro before Justice Rilwan Aikawa on Thursday . Usoro is facing amended six counts of money laundering .
Also named as defendants in the case are the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance , Nsikan Nkan; the state ’ s Accountant General , Mfon Udomah ; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko ; and the cashier at the Akwa Ibom State Government House, Margaret Ukpe .
At the Thursday proceeding , the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC , Usman Buhari , through the investigator , Rabo, tendered Usoro ’ s Access Bank account package as an exhibit before the judge .
The prosecution also tendered the statements made to the EFCC by the SANs, whom Usoro invited to join him to handle Emmanuel ’ s election petition . The court admitted the statements as exhibits.
Fielding questions from the prosecutor , the investigator said after being paid legal fee from the Akwa Ibom State treasury , Usoro gave back N55 m to the state’ s Attorney General .
Under cross – examination, Usoro ’ s lawyer , Offiong Offiong (SAN ), asked the investigator , “ During your investigation , did you see that the money in issue was for legal fees of the service rendered to Governor Udom ?”
Responding , the investigator said , “ It is a payment made from government treasury for personal election tribunal pursuit of the governor. ”
When Offiong pointed out to the investigator that his kick – back claim against Usoro was “ scandalous” , the investigator said , “My Lord , what I said in my evidence- in – chief was that this defendant ( Usoro ) lodged the sum of N55 m into the account of Akwa Ibom State Government Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Uwemedimo Nwoko . ”
Justice Aikawa adjourned till January 18 – 20 , 2021 for further proceedings .
