8th October, 2021
By Taiye Agbaje
A Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted permission to former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to travel for a medical checkup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
EFCC had dragged Adoke and Aliyu Abubakar to court over a 14-count charge of money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, granted Adoke’s prayer after the lawyer to the EFCC, Nnenna Oko, acknowledged that the agency had been served with a copy of the application and they were not objecting.
Earlier, Adoke’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, moved the motion on notice dated and filed on Oct. 4.
Agabi said the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/39/2017 was praying the court for an order, directing the registry of the court to release his client’s international passport to enable him to travel for medical treatment from Oct. 11 to Nov. 15.
He said due to the rigours of trial and the unpredictability of the human body, Adoke’s health had once again deteriorated and required closer examination from his physicians abroad who are conversant with his medical history.
The lawyer hinted in the motion that his client had earlier been scheduled for further medical treatment between Aug. 11 and Sept. 8 but could not travel due to unforeseen circumstances.
“In particular, the 1s defendant/Applicant (Adoke) was scheduled to undergo diagnosis for the following:
“Back pain, gastric ulcer, glaucoma hyperlipidemia, hypertension, short-sightedness, urinary tract infection, Vitamin D deficiency and dry eye syndrome, bilateral,” he said.
Agabi reminded that since Adoke was arraigned, alongside the 2nd defendant, and granted bail, he had diligently attended his trial and not behaved in a manner suggestive of either disrespect to the court or an attempt at jumping bail.
In his verdict, Justice Ekwo ordered Adoke’s counsel to give an undertaking that his client would return to the country to face his trial.
He also ordered the deputy chief registrar, Litigation, of the court to inform the Nigerian Immigration Service of the leave of court for Adoke to travel.
Thereafter, the judge directed that the travel documents be returned to the court registry not later than three days upon his return to the country.
He then adjourned the matter until Dec. 6 for trial continuation.
NAN