The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, Nigeria and presided over by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, has discharged and acquitted the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro SAN, of the N4.2billion fraud charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Rilwan Aikawa held that the anti graft agency failed to establish any prima facie case against Mr Usoro that would warrant him to enter a defence.
The judge made the decision while ruling on Mr Usoro’s “no case” submission.
Justice Aikawa noted that the penal code, under which the NBA chieftain was charged, is not applicable to southern states, that is, Lagos and Akwa-Ibom, which were said to be the locations of the alleged offences.
“On the whole, I hold that the prosecution has failed to establish any prima facie case.
“Accordingly, the defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted,” Justice Aikawa held.