EFCC Press Release: Sylva Loses Bid to Reclaim Passport

Former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva today failed in the bid to repossess his international passport as Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja threw out his application for lack of merit. 

Sylva had approach the court for the release of his passport claiming that he needed the document to enable him travel to the United Kingdom to be with his wife who is due to undergo a surgical procedure.

At the last sitting, his counsel told the court that the former governor had given an undertaking that as soon as he returns from overseas, he will deliver the passport back to the Registrar of the court.

The defence counsel further told the court that the accused person surrendered himself voluntarily to the court in June 2012 when the he was arraigned. He reminded the court that the passport was released to the accused last year to enable him travel and that upon his return, he promptly brought the said document to the court.

 Prosecution counsel, John Ainetor however opposed the application. He asked the court to dismiss the application in the interest of justice. He said the accused did not need any medical attention personally, but only wanted to accompany his wife who he claims needed medical attention.

 The EFCC counsel also revealed that there were pending allegations against the accused person and his wife and that the trip was a ploy to escape current investigation and possible trial.

Justice Bello in his ruling on Thursday May 30, 2013 dismissed the application on the grounds that the London doctors will deal directly with accused wife and so the application lacks any urgency. The judge also held that the letter from the London Hospital was addressed to No. 38 Malbrone Avenue, London where the wife of the accused is residing and so had no link with the former governor.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

30^th May, 2013