Andrew Yakubu granted permission to travel abroad for medical treatment
The Federal High Court,
Abuja has granted a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation, Andrew Yakubu, permission to travel abroad for medical
treatment.
Yakubu was arraigned by the EFCC
on a six-count charge of money laundering and false declaration of asset.
At the resumed hearing of
the case, the defendant, through his counsel, Ahmed Raji, begged the court to
allow him travel to the UK to complete his medical treatment.
Raji informed the court that
the defendant was undergoing medical treatment before he was summoned by the
EFCC to return to the country.
He also pleaded with the
court to order the release of the defendant’s international passport which was
deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court as part of his bail
conditions.
In his response, counsel to
EFCC, Ben Ikani, said he would not object to the application since it was based
on health ground.
While leaving the request to
the discretion of the court, Ikani however urged the trial Judge to release the
passport to Raji, the defendant’s lawyer.
In his ruling, Justice Ahmed
Mohammed said he was disposed to granting the motion since it was not opposed
by the prosecution.
Consequently, he granted the
defendant three weeks permission to travel to the UK for completion of his
medical treatment.
The court held that the
three weeks period would commence from May 25.
It directed that one the
sureties must file a separate affidavit agreeing to be held liable should the
defendant fail to return to Nigeria to face his trial.
Before adjourning the trial
till July 6, Justice Mohammed directed Yakubu to surrender his international
passport with the Deputy Registrar of the court on his return to the country.
The defendant was granted
bail to the tune of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.
Yakubu was arrested
following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.
The EFCC raided his guest
house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State and discovered 9.7 million dollars
and 74,000 pounds hidden in a fireproof safe.
Comments
Post a Comment