HOT: Fraud Charge: “Whenever Usoro is arraigned, I will write him to step aside” – Prof Ojukwu Reacts

Foremost Nigerian Lawyer, Senior advocate of Nigeria and former deputy director of the Nigerian  Law School, Prof Ernest Ojukwu has reacted to the fraud and money laundering charges proffered against the NBA President Paul Usoro SAN.

In a response to a query from BarristerNG.com on whether he considers the EFCC charge against the NBA president, an attempt by the Federal Government to silence the NBA, the learned scholar and law teacher shared the response below with BarristerNG.com

I do not see any reason to associate the EFCC’s reported money laundering charges against Mr Paul Usoro SAN as an attempt by Government to silence the Nigerian Bar Association. I have seen some timid and insulting release credited to some officers and members of the NBA that attempts to use cheap sentiments to mislead unwary members of the NBA into converting the personal Charges into charges against the Bar.

Mr Usoro himself has announced that he would defend the charges. That is good. Money laundering is a serious international crime for which living bar associations all over the world are making frantic efforts to tackle because lawyers are one of the most vulnerable conduits for money laundering and financial frauds. 

Instead of playing this slave-master mentality syndrome which we have culturised for our Bar presidents this is the chance for the bar and the legal profession in Nigeria to show that we are serious with our responsibilities on anti corruption and discipline for our profession and the Nation.

Instead of encouraging Mr Usoro to continue playing an ostrich and gallery game and consequently bring the entire legal profession down, he should be supported to bravely stand his trial and clear his name. This is what would make the bar and the legal profession proud, strong and stronger.

Whenever I learn that Paul has been served with the charges or has been arraigned, I would write or call him to advise him to step aside as President of the Bar until his case is determined. I am aware that partisan persons will immediately say that my opinion is because I was rigged out of the NBA presidency. That view does not bother me and will not. I will not ask Paul to resign but simply to announce and act it that he would stay away as President, a form of leave and let the Vice Presidents act until his case is resolved then if in his favour he resumes. That is what the Bar asked our judges to do in their own case. With his cooperation his trial may end in less than 6 months. I am aware this is not contemplated in our Constitution but I think the doctrine of necessity warrants it. It would be unacceptable to me and other well meaning members of society for him to be on trial for the crime of money laundering and be representing us in the National Judicial Council, special Supreme Court sessions, International Bar Association, Commomwealth Lawyers, and be chairing the meetings of the Council of Legal Education. It would be great for him to spare the bar of psycophants whose actions will further bring the profession into disrepute in the guise of defending the bar.