Usoro was first arraigned on December 18, 2018 before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court.

He was later re-arraigned on March 1, 2019 before Justice Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.4 billion brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him.

At Friday’s sitting, Arabo, an investigator with the EFCC, told the court that Nwoko ignored EFCC’s invitation when he was invited to corroborate the claims of the defendant that the sum of N65 million paid into his personal account was payment for lawyers who handled the election tribunal matter in court.

When asked by the defence counsel, O.E.B Offiong, SAN, if he could not have called any of the lawyers who received the money from the Attorney General on the account of the defendant, Arabo said “The Attorney-General was the only one we could call because the money went into his personal account and it was natural to invite him as the sole signatory to the account.”

Arabo, during cross-examination, further told the court that though the EFCC had written letters to the Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State requesting the release of certain officials, the Attorney-General was at that time not included because the need had not arisen.

He added: “However, when he was needed, he failed to show up.”

Justice Aikawa adjourned the case to January 20 and 21, 2021 for continuation of trial.