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), while it adjourned hearing to dismiss arrest warrant against 4 government officials.
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 4 government officials 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.
Counsel to the accountant-general, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said he needed time to respond to EFCC’s counter-motion to his application for vacation of a bench warrant against his client.
He said that he received the counter motion on Monday.
Also, counsel for Akwa Ibom governor, Dr Charles Mekwunye, submitted that he filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the case.
He said he filed the application on March 3, and received EFCC’s reply on April 15.
Mekwunye said that he was still putting together a response. (NAN)
