A Federal High Court judge in Lagos, Justice Chuka Obiozor, on Thursday withdrew from the trial of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presiden Paul Usoro (SAN), charged with N1.4billion fraud.
Usoro was first arraigned before Justice Muslim Hassan on a 10-count charge.
He pleaded not guilty and Justice Hassan later withdrew from the case.
Others charged with Usoro are Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General, Mfon Udomah; Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko and Margaret Ukpe, said to be at large.
Also named in the charge is Governor Emmanuel Udom, “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution.”
Usoro was to be re-arraigned before Justice Obiozor, but the judge recused himself for personal reasons.
“For personal reasons, I hereby disqualify myself from handling the case.
“I hereby return this file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge,” Justice Obiozor ruled.
Prior to Usoro’s arraignment before Justice Hassan last December 18, his lead counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the judge of a December 17 letter to the Chief Judge seeking the transfer of the case to another judge for an undisclosed reason.
Olanipekun said Usoro would want the case transferred to either Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, or Abuja.
He said if the case would remain in Lagos, it should be transferred to “any other honourable judge apart from my noble Lord.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the defendants committed the offence on May 14, 2016.
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