Paul Usoro, the President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, would be re-arraigned on February 14, 2019, before Justice Chuks Obiozor of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The trial of Usoro is to commence afresh on alleged money laundering to the tune of N1.4 billion, ChannelsTV reported.
His planned re-arraignment followed the failure of the case to continue at the court on Tuesday, February 5, 2019.
Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, the chief judge of the Court, re-assigned the case from the courtroom of Justice Muslim Hassan after he granted the request of the NBA President for a change of judge.
On December 18, 2018, a former NBA President and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Wole Olanipekun, who led Mr Usoro’s defence team had drawn the court’s attention to a letter written by his client to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
He sought the transfer of the case to another judge in Lagos or to any judicial division between Uyo and Abuja.
After the proceedings of that day, the court adjourned till February 5, 2019, for the continuation of the trial.
Usoro is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 10 counts bordering on fraud.
He was alleged to have conspired with some others 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 unlawful activity.
The offence was allegedly committed in May 2016.
The commission also alleged that the NBA President conspired with others to commit the offence within the jurisdiction of the court.
Also named in the charge is the incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Emmanuel Udom, who is described in the charge as being “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution”.
Others charged are the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General of Akwa Ibom State, Mfon Udomah; the Akwa Ibom State Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko, and Margaret Ukpe.
The defendants were said to be at large.
Mr Usoro had, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Hassan subsequently admitted him to bail in the sum of N250 million with one surety in like sum.
