Paul Usoro, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been acquitted of the money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Usoro who was accused of laundering N1.4bn belonging to his home state Akwa Ibom, was initially arraigned on a 10-count charge before a court of appeal struck out four of the counts in which Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom was mentioned.

While the EFCC called two witnesses and tendered some documents to prove the charges which Usoro pleaded “not guilty” to, Usoro’s legal team which is headed by Effiong Effiong filed a no-case submission, contending that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against him to warrant him to put in any defence.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the federal high court in Lagos who ruled on the case, agreed with the defendant’s argument and discharged him.