Court Releases NBA President's Passport

A Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has released the passport of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Paul Usoro, to allow him to attend to his foreign engagements as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Justice Rilwan Aikawa granted the application after Usoro’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) allayed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s fears by saying that in case of any clash between the trial date and his travel date, the trial date will prevail.

The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo who did not oppose the grant of the application based on Olanipekun’s undertaking that the trial date is sacrosanct however urged the court to mandate the defendant to notify the EFCC’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, anytime he wants to travel out of the country.

In his ruling, Justice Aikawa ordered the permanent release of Usoro’s passport and also directed him to ensure that Magu is notified anytime he wants to travel out of the country.

Usoro is standing trial for alleged money laundering to the tune of N1.4billion, linked to some Akwa Ibom state government officials.

Meanwhile, the hearing of pending applications to vacate the warrant of an arrest made against some Akwa Ibom state government officials was again stalled at today’s proceedings.

Justice Aikawa adjourned the case to Friday, May 10, to hear all the pending applications.

Meanwhile, a Civil Society Organisation working to control corruption and accelerate justice and service delivery in Nigeria, TransparencIT Nigeria, has accused the federal government of violating the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The organisation made the accusation via its Twitter handle on Monday, April 15, while reacting to the delay in the arraignment of the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.