The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday rejected an application filed by Olugbenga Obadina, a businessman, standing trial for alleged money laundering to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Obadina was alleged to have received over N2 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki without a contract award.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to Obadina, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) made the application for the temporary release of his passport to enable him to travel for medical treatment abroad.
Uche said that the medical papers testifying to the need for the defendant to seek treatment were attached to the affidavit that was deposed to by the applicant himself.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Larry Aso, opposed the application on the grounds that the medical papers emanated from the clinic of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which was not related to the applicant in any way.
Aso maintained that the prosecution still held onto its earlier stand that the defendant was a flight risk, adding that ulcer, the ailment the defendant was seeking treatment for could be handled in Nigeria.
He added that the prosecution was relying on the records of the court of Jan. 27, where the defendant’s surety, Mrs Maryam Sagir applied to withdraw her suretyship.
In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said that in applying the discretion of the court, he was not minded to grant the application.
“I have considered carefully the application of the defendant for the release of his passport to travel abroad for medical treatment.
“Traditionally, the court has always maintained a liberal approach in releasing passport for medical treatment based on the presumption that the defendant is innocent until proved otherwise.
“Also, going by what transpired on July 15, 2016, during his arraignment where he refused to present his bio data and the happenings of Jan. 27, where questions were raised concerning his suretyship.
“Even though the issue of the surety has been resolved, I am not minded to grant the application in favour of the applicant.”
He dismissed the application, adding that the court might take a different view in a subsequent application if compelling evidence was presented.
Dimgba adjourned the matter to March 22 for the continuation of hearing.
Earlier, Mr Victor Agunzi, counsel to Sagir who had applied to withdraw her suretyship told the court that the parties had met and sorted out their differences.
Agunzi said, as a result, Sagir would continue as Obadina’s surety.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sagir had applied to withdraw her suretyship on the grounds that Obadina had not kept to the conditions they agreed on.