The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, okayed the application filed by Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical attention.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the request after the motion was moved by Zakari Abbas, who appeared for Mr Bello, and Abbas Muhammed, who represented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission did not oppose the application.
Justice Egwuatu also granted the application filed by Mr Bello’s co-defendant, Yakubu Adabenege, to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the 2025 hajj (pilgrimage), scheduled between July 28 and August 27.
When the matter was called, the EFCC’s lawyer, Muhammed, informed the court that the matter was fixed for continuation of cross-examination of the 7th prosecution witness (PW-7), Offure Achille, a staff member of Access Bank in Lokoja, Kogi State.
He, however, told the court that Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, who is the lead counsel to Mr Bello, informed him that he was attending another matter at the Supreme Court, and pleaded that the trial be stood down until the afternoon.
Mr Muhammed then said that their witness, who was in court, would not be able to return later in the day.
He, therefore, sought an adjournment.
Meanwhile, Mr Abbas, who held the brief of Mr Aliyu, notified the court of their pending motion filed on May 12 May on Bello’s behalf, seeking permission to travel to London in the United Kingdom for medical check-up.
In the same vein, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, who is counsel to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, reminded the court of another application filed on May 23 on Adabenege’s behalf, seeking leave to travel for the 2025 Hajj (pilgrimage).
Mr Muhammed did not oppose the two motions.
Justice Egwuatu, in his ruling, granted both applications.
The judge, who ordered Mr Bello to return his international passport to the registrar of the court on or before September 12, directed Adabenege to deposit his travel documents on or before August 30.
He adjourned the matter until October 13 and 14 for continuation of trial.
The motion filed by Mr Bello, he had sought for two orders.
The Kogi CoS sought an order granting permission to him to travel to London Centre for Advanced Cardiology in the UK for a series of follow-up cardiologic medical examinations and consultation with his personal medical consultant between July 30 and September 10.
He also sought an order releasing his passport in the custody of the deputy chief registrar of the court to enable him to embark on the journey.
In the affidavit he personally deposed to, Mr Bello averred that the court had graciously granted him permission to visit his said cardiologist between August 1and 31, 2023, and that he indeed visited the hospital and returned to Nigeria on August 18.
Besides, he said the court had also graciously granted him permission to travel another three consecutive times and he returned as promised.
He said, “That on the four occasions stated above, I travelled and returned, while also returning my passport to the deputy chief registrar of this honourable court as ordered by the court.’’
The EFCC’s witness, Achille, on June 17, admitted that the name of Ali Bello did not feature in any of the bank transactions in the ongoing money laundering trial.
The banker, who told the judge during a cross examination by Mr Bello’s counsel, Mr Aliyu, also admitted that she earlier gave evidence that there were transfer of funds from the state’s local government areas (LGAs) accounts into three companies: Fazab Business Enterprise and Hyzman ARY Construction Limited.
She, however, told the court that the bank did not receive any complaint from the LGAs that the payments made were either fraudulent, unauthorised or to show that they were not for services rendered by the companies.
The witness, who said he had no personal interest in the case, agreed that she gave a testimony as part of her official assignment.
Mr Bello is standing trial on money laundering charges involving the alleged diversion of about N3 billion belonging to Kogi State government and its local governments.
He faces 18 counts of money laundering alongside his co-defendants —Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and Rashida Bello.
(NAN)
