Justice Okon
Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday granted permission to former
Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, to travel abroad for medical
treatment.
He equally
permitted Zulkifikk Abba to travel abroad to visit family members.
The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on August 7, 2015 arraigned Nyako
alongside his son, Abdul-Aziz and others, including Zulkifikk Abba, Abubakar
Aliyu and five firms on a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering.
However,
after hearing two different applications filed by the first defendant (Nyako)
and the third defendant (Zulkifikk) yesterday seeking the court’s leave to
travel outside the country, Justice Abang stated that he was minded to grant
the applications since the prosecution counsel did not oppose to them.
The judge,
in his ruling, stated that he acceded to the request of the defendants having
considered the reliefs in the applications, enclosed affidavits, the written
addresses as well as provision of Section 173 (2a) of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act 2015.
He noted
that Nyako and Abba, as well as the other defendants, were always available in
court to attend trial Guardian reported.
“The first
defendant has neither taken any step to truncate nor frustrate his trial; and
has always conducted himself well and obediently before the court.
“In the case
of the third defendant, he has been granted leave to travel abroad before and
he honoured the conditions given him by the court, especially by returning his
international passport to the court authority as ordered.
“I have no
reasons at all to doubt the sincerity of the first defendant in travelling
abroad for medical check-up and the third defendant to see his family members
overseas.”
“The Chief
Registrar of the Federal High Court Abuja is ordered to temporarily release the
international passport of the first defendant (Nyako) to enable him travel to
Germany for a routine medical check-up,” the judge said.
The court
equally ordered the release of Abba’s document to enable him travel to the
United Kingdom to see his children, who are citizens of the country. The court
however ordered the two defendants to return the travel documents to the Chief
Registrar on or before September 25.
It also held
that Nyako and Abba should serve, before leaving, a verifiable affidavit that
the sureties are aware of their planned trip abroad.
Subsequently,
Justice Abang adjourned till September 25 after vacating the earlier July 28
date for continuation of trial.
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