A prosecution witness in the alleged money laundering trial of Paul Usoro, President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Udom Idongesit, has told Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how seven hundred million niara was paid into Mr Usoro’s account on the instruction of a former Accountant-General, Akwa Ibom State, Linus Nkan.
Mr Usoro was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court on December 18, 2018.
He was later re-arraigned on March 1, 2019 before Justice Aikawa on a ten count charge on alleged N1.4 billion money laundering.
At the resumption trial, a Relations Manager at the Aka Road branch of Zenith Bank in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Ms Idongesit, told the court that the bank, on March 10, 2016, was given a withdrawal instructions of seven hundred million niara on the imprest account of Akwa Ibom State payable to Mr Usoro’s Zenith Bank account.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness further said she made moves to get Mr Usoro to open an account with the bank so that the money could be paid to him.
The witness also told the court that she opened an account for the defendant due to the fact he never had an account with the bank prior to that transaction.
She said she got Mr Usoro’s contact from the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, on March 14, 2016 and later put a call through to him to inform him about the payment.
Giving further testimony, Ms Idongesit said: “Mr. Paul Usoro instructed me to work with two of his colleagues.
“When I confirmed the exact names registered on the form, I sought the approval of my Zonal Head to open the account and also made the deposit while waiting for documentation.
“I filled the deposit slip; and the depositor’s name that I filled was Paul Usoro.”
Idongesit further told the court that a sum of three hundred million naira was first credited to the account on March 14, 2016 in cash and that more funds were subsequently credited to the account to the tune of four hundred million naira.
The transactions, according to her, were carried out on the instructions of the defendant.
Ms Idongesit, in her evidence, also told the court that monies were transferred to individuals and companies from the defendant’s account on his instructions.
The witness said there were emails to show and reflect the instructions given to her by the defendant regarding all the transactions.
The emails, instruments of payment, account opening package, certification of identification and statements of account were tendered by Mr. Oyedepo, and admitted in evidence by the court.
Justice Aikawa adjourned the case till January 13 and February 11 and 12, 2020 for the continuation of trial.
PR/EFCC
