Emeka Ibemere
Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal
High Court Abuja on Tuesday adjourned to May 30, 2013 ruling on the application
by Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State, seeking the release of his
International passport. Sylva in his motion claimed that he wanted his
international passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom to attend to
his wife who is to undergo a surgical operation.
At today hearing, counsel to Sylva,
O.I Olorondaye said he had filed a motion seeking the released of the
applicant’s International passport brought pursuant to section 33, 36 and 41 of
the 1999 Constitution. The application was supported with an eleven paragraph
affidavit and written address.
Olurondaye told the court that
the former governor has given an undertaking that as soon as he returns from
overseas, he will return the passport to the Registrar of the court. He further
stated that the accused person always come to court regularly.
The defence counsel further told the
court that the accused person surrendered himself voluntarily to the court in
June 2012 when 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 brought it back to the court.
Prosecution counsel, John
Ainetor, vehemently opposed the application. He asked the court to refuse and
dismissed 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 adjourned the case to
May 30, 2013 for ruling.
Wilson
Uwujaren
Ag. Head,
Media & Publicity
28th
May 2013
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