Justice Rilwan Aikawa has ordered that the passport of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Paul Usoro be released to him to enable him to travel abroad for his foreign engagements.

Usoro, who is being prosecuted for allegedly laundering a sum of N1.4bn belonging to Akwa Ibom State, had surrendered his passport to the court as part of the conditions attached to the bail granted him.

The defense team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun applied that Usoro’s passport be released to him, giving assurance that the defendants would always be available for his trial.

He promised that Usoro would schedule his foreign trips not to clash with trial dates.

In response, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said he would not oppose the application for the release of Usoro’s passport, given the undertaking by his lawyer that the NBA President would not frustrate the trial.