Dasuki: Court rejects N2b suspect’s bid to travel abroad for treatment

The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday rejected an application by Olugbenga Obadina, a business man, on 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.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to Obadina, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) applied for temporary release of his passport to enable him travel for treatment abroad.

Uche said the medical papers were attached to the affidavit deposed to by the applicant.

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 unrelated to the applicant in anyway.

Aso maintained that the prosecution held unto its stand that the defendant was a flight risk, adding that ulcer, the ailment the defendant sought treatment could be handled in Nigeria.

He added that the prosecution was relying on court records of Jan. 27, where the defendant’s surety, Mrs Maryam Sagir, applied for withdrawal.

In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, said he would 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 biodata and the happenings of Jan. 27, were questions were raised concerning his surety ship.

“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 till March 22 for continuation of hearing.

Earlier, Mr Victor Agunzi, counsel to Sagir, who applied to withdraw her as surety, told the court the parties had met and sorted out their differences.

Agunzi said as a result, Sagir would continue as Obadina’s surety.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sagir had applied to withdraw her surety on the grounds that Obadina did not keep to conditions they agreed on.