6th July, 2022
By Taiye Agbaje
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an application filed by Sen. Rochas Okorocha, seeking an order granting him leave to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment.
Okorocha had on Thursday, June 30, 2022, through his lawyer, Daniel Alumun, approached the court with the motion.
However, the EFCC’s lawyer, Chile Okoroma, who is Director of Legal Services for the agency, opposed the request.
He explained how the applicant flouted the earlier administrative bail granted him by the anti-corruption agency.
According to him, it took the agency about six months after the matter was filed to bring the applicant before the court.
Okoroma added that Okorocha is a flight risk, and said if allowed to travel abroad, the lawmaker would jump bail.
While granting the order, Justice Inyang Ekwo warned the lawmaker against failing to appear on the next adjourned date.
“I am going to grant this application. But if I grant this application and the defendant fails to appear in the next adjourned date, I will make an order declaring him wanted,” the judge said.
“Upon perusing the prayers sought by the applicant and the averments in the counter affidavit of the respondent, I am of the opinion that this application be granted because it is of medical grounds. Prayers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are hereby granted as prayed.
“There shall be consequences if the 1st defendant (Okorocha) fails to appear on the next adjourned date,” Ekwo ruled.
He ordered Okorocha to return his travel documents to the court registry not later than three days upon his return.
Thereafter, he adjourned the matter until Nov. 7, Nov. 8, Nov. 9, Nov. 10, and Nov. 11 for trial continuation.
NAN