- Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria have been accused of allegedly receiving N415m from the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has started investigating the three senior advocates, Damian Dodo, Tayo Oyetibo and Chief Offiong Effiong
- EFCC said the senior advocates claimed during interrogation that the funds were meant for the payment of the legal services rendered to Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in its fight against corruption has investigated three Senior Advocates of Nigeria for allegedly receiving N415m from the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro.
The Punch reports that the commission said the money was part of N1.4bn that emanated from the bank accounts of the Akwa Ibom state government.
An EFCC internal memo earlier stated that three senior advocates, Damian Dodo, Tayo Oyetibo and Chief Offiong Effiong had “made relevant statements” at the commission.
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Two other senior advocates are also expected to be invited by the EFCC to explain what the money was meant for.
The document read in part, “On March 16, 2016, Paul Usoro and Co received the sum of N300m from the Akwa Ibom State Government. The money was paid into the Zenith Bank account of Paul Usoro and Co with account number 1014604466.
“Out of the N300m, Usoro transferred N75m into the Zenith Bank account of Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Co with account number 1010647065. Damian Dodo and Co received N75m through Sterling Bank number 0016952758.”
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The EFCC further explained that it would also invite Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), later as some funds were also traced to him. The commission stated Ikpeazu had not yet been invited for certain reasons.
The anti-graft agency said the senior advocates claimed during interrogation that the funds were meant for the payment of the legal services rendered to Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel, whose election victory was being challenged in court.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, arrived the Federal High Court in Lagos for his scheduled arraignment on money laundering charges.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused Usoro of converting and laundering a sum of N1.4 billion belonging to the Akwa Ibom state government.
Paul Usoro, the president of Nigerian Bar Association, has vowed not to resign his position despite the N1.4 billion fraud charges levelled against him by the commission.
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Source: Legit.ng
