- A|Ibom Officials Allegedly On the Run, May be declared Wanted by EFCC
By Omuvwie Onohwakpor (The New Diplomat South South Bureau Chief)
The case of alleged N1.4bn money laundering and purported criminal diversion of public funds reportedly involving the governor fo Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Paul Usoro, SAN, some officials of the Akwa Ibom State government as well as officials of a Lagos-based bank came up before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos today.
The case was however adjourned until March 23, 2020 for further hearing to determine, and establish among other things allegations of N1.4bn fraud against Paul Usoro, SAN, and others including the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Emmanuel Udom who is currently enjoying immunity from criminal prosecution.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had first arraigned Usoro,SAN before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court on December 18, 2018. Thereafter, the Lagos-based Lawyer was later re-arraigned on March 1, 2019 before Justice Aikawa on a 10-count charge.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Paul Usoro, SAN, Emmanuel Udom (currently constitutionally immune against criminal prosecution), Uwemedimo Thomas Nwoko (still at large), Nsikan Linus Nkan, Commissioner of Finance, Akwa Ibom State (still at large), Mfon Jacobson Udomah, Accountant-General, Akwa Ibom State (still at large) and Margaret Thompson Ukpe (still at large) sometime in 2015 in Nigerian, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conversion of the sum of N1,410,000,000.00 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ten Million Naira), property of the Government of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Mr Usoro who pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him by the EFCC may have to wait till March 23 when further hearing on the case comes up. Sources hinted that the anti-graft agency may also declare some of those Akwa Ibom government officials currently at large wanted if they persistently fail to remain at large. Said an insider within EFCC: ‘’ We may have no option than to declare some of them wanted. The Commission would continue explore means of bringing them to justice…”
It would be recalled that at the resumed sitting e arlier today2020, the first prosecution witness, Idongesit Udom, a Deputy Manager at Zenith Bank Plc, was cross-examined by defence counsel, Offiong E.B. Offiong, SAN.
Udom, under cross-examination, told the court that she and one Irene Akpabio were the Relationship Managers of the account of the firm belonging to the defendant. She said: “I made the first statement to the EFCC on July 12, 2018 and the second on July 19, 2018.”
According to her, the defendant, his staff and her exchanged a series of emails.
Udom also told the court that no email was sent to the defendant informing him that there was a payment of the sum of N300m or any email or even letter to him by the bank informing him that the sum of N300m was paid into the his account.
“Irene Akpabio was the person designated by Zenith Bank to go and make statement with the EFCC in respect of the this case.
“This is due to the fact that she and Irene were the Relationship Managers of the defendant’s account.
“In its invitation to Zenith Bank, the EFCC asked for the account officer of the defendant, who happened to be Irene Akpabio,” she further told the court.
When asked if she could produce the letter of invitation from the EFCC, she answered in the affirmative. Justice Aikawa, thereafter, adjourned until March 23, 2020 and April 21 and 22, 2020 for continuation.
