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.
“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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