By Nsikak Nseyen Senator Rochas Okorocha has sought an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, granting him leave to travel to the Uni...
By Nsikak Nseyen
Senator Rochas Okorocha has sought an order of a Federal
High Court, Abuja, granting him leave to travel to the United States (U.S.) for
medical treatment.
Okorocha, through his lawyer, Daniel Alumun, made this known
on Thursday when the matter came up before Justice Inyang Ekwo, NAN reports.
Alumun, however, informed the court shortly after his case
was mentioned, that he was unable to serve the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), the complainant, respondent motion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC
counsel was not in court.
Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter until July 6
for a hearing of the motion.
In a motion on notice marked: FHC /ABJ/CS/28/2022 dated June
22 and filed June 27 by Okey Amaechi, SAN, Okorocha sought an order granting
him leave to travel outside Nigeria for medical treatment; and return before
Nov. 7, being the next adjourned date for his trial.
The senator representing Imo West Senatorial District also
sought a consequential order for the release of his Nigerian international
travel passport booklet, which was deposited with the court registrar in
partial fulfilment of the conditions for the bail granted to him.
He further sought for “a consequential order that reliefs(1}
and (2) above be communicated by the registrar of this honourable court to the
Nigerian Immigration Service, to facilitate the passage of the applicant.
“An order directing the 1st defendant/applicant to return
his international passport to the registrar of the honourable court upon his
return to Nigeria.”
The lawmaker, who gave three grounds why the reliefs sought
should be granted, said he was admitted to bail pending trial in charge number,
FHC/ABJ/28/2022.
He said he has duly complied with all the terms of the bail
including depositing his travel documents with the registrar of the court.
He said prior to his arraignment, he had “undergone medical
surgery at the Ambulatory Surgery Centre, Texas, in the US for distal femur
fracture, which he sustained in an accident.”
Okorocha said he has been on regular/scheduled care and
treatment at the same Ambulatory Surgery Center, where he has been scheduled
for further medical tests, observation and treatment on July 19, 2022, or
immediately thereafter.
The former governor is being tried for alleged money laundry
during his time as Imo helmsman.
Others arraigned alongside Okorocha are Anyim Chinenye,
Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid
Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World
Concepts Limited as 2nd to 7th defendants respectively
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