Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) – Damian Dodo, Tayo Oyetibo and Chief Offiong Effiong – are currently being interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving N415 million from Mr Paul Usoro, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
According to the EFCC, the money was part of the N1.4bn that emanated from the bank accounts of the Akwa Ibom State Government and they claimed the three SANs had “made relevant statements” even as they expect two other senior advocates.
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.”
The commission said it would also invite Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), later as some funds were also traced to him. The anti-graft agency said Ikpeazu had not yet been invited for certain reasons.
The 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, whose election victory was being challenged in court.
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