##TrackNigeria – A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday varied the bail conditions it granted to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro (SAN).
Justice Rilwan Aikawa ordered the release of Usoro’s international passport and directed that he should inform the office of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) anytime he would want to travel out of the country.
The judge varied Usoro’s bail conditions following an application by his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Usoro is facing a 10-count charge bordering on fraud.
The charge was preferred by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency accused Usoro and some others of laundering N1.4 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom Government.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
Also named in the charge is Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, who is described in the charge as being “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution”.
Other defendants are the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; Accountant-General of Akwa Ibom, Mfon Udomah; the state Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko, and one Margaret Ukpe.
EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose the application to vary the bail conditions but urged the court to order that the defendant should drop his international passport on arrival from any journey.
He argued that it would be difficult to have the defendant in court if his travel would clash with his trial.
However, Olanipekun assured the court that proceedings would prevail over any Usoro’s overseas travel in the event of a clash.
The judge adjourned the case until May 10 to enable the attorney-general of Akwa Ibom and the three others to respond to a counter-motion filed by the prosecution.
