• Says ex-Imo Gov must appear in court on Nov 7 or face severe consequences
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an application by the former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, seeking court’s permission to travel to the United States for medical treatment.
Granting the request for the US treatment after Okorocha’s lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, moved the application to that effect, Justice Ekwo warned the federal lawmaker against failure to appear in court during the next adjotrned date.
Okorocha (APC, Imo West) had approached the court with the application through his lawyer, Daniel Alumun.
When the matter came up before Justice Ekwo last Thursday, Alumun informed the court that he was unable to serve the prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with the application.
Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter and fixed Wednesday, July 6 for the hearing of the application .
At the resumes hearing of the matter on Wednesday, Okorocha’s lawyer, Olanipekun, told the court that he had a motion on notice marked: FHC /ABJ/CS/28/2022 dated June 22 and filed June 27.
The Senior Advocate said the motion sought for an order granting the applicant (Okorocha) leave to travel outside Nigeria for medical treatment; and return before November 7, being the next adjourned date for his trial.
But the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Chile Okoroma, who is the Director of Legal Services for the agency, opposed the request.
He explained how Okorocha flouted the earlier administrative bail granted him by the anti-corruption agency.
Okoroma added that he took the EFCC about six months after the matter was filed to bring Okorocha before the court.
Okoroma, who said Okorocha is a flight-risk, said if allowed to travel abroad, the federal lawmaker would jump bail.
But Justice Ekwo said that since Okorocha had appeared in court, arraigned and the trial commenced, everyone should look forward to the future development.
The judge said, “I am going to grant this application. But if I grant this application and the defendant fails to appear in the next adjourned date, I will make an order declaring him wanted.
Okoroma, who said he was satisfied with Justice Ekwo’s intervention, withdrew all his initial grounds for opposing the application.
In his ruling on the matter, Justice Ekwo held that he was of the opinion that the application ought to be granted because it was on medical grounds.
The judge also held that the development would afford Okorocha the opportunity to stand his trial.
He said, “Upon perusing the prayers sought by the applicant and the averments in the counter affidavit of the respondent, I am of the opinion that this application be granted because it is of medical grounds.
“Prayers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are hereby granted as prayed.
The judge also ordered Okorocha to return his travel documents to the court registry not later than three days upon his return.
“There shall be consequences if the 1st defendant (Okorocha) fails to appear in the next adjotrned date.
Justice Okowa later adjourned the matter till November 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 for continuation of trial.
Okorocha had sought a consequential order for the release of his Nigerian international travel passport booklet, which was deposited with the court registrar in partial fulfillment of the conditions for bail granted to him.
He further sought for “a consequential order that reliefs(1} and (2) above be communicated by the registrar of the court to the Nigerian Immigration Service, to facilitate the passage of the applicant.“
The federal lawmaker also sought for an order directing the 1st defendant/applicant to return his international passport to the registrar of the 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.
According to Okorocha, prior to his arraignment, he underwent surgery at the Ambulatory Surgery Centre, Texas, US for distal femur fracture, which he sustained in an accident.
He also claimed that he has been on regular/scheduled care and treatment at the same Ambulatory Surgery Centre, where he has been scheduled for further medical tests, observation and treatment on July 19, 2022 or immediately thereafter.
The EFCC is prosecuting Okorocha and his close associates, following their alleged involvement in money laundering while serving as Imo State Governor.
Others defendants arraigned with him are Anyim Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
