A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the release of the international passport of Ali Bello to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical examination and consultation.
The trial Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling on Bello’s motion on notice moved by his lawyer, Abubakar Aliyu, SAN, ordered the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court to release his travel documents.
The court also made an order granting permission to Ali Bello to travel to the United Kingdom, that is, the London Centre for Advanced Cardiology, 3rd Floor, 19 Horley Street, London, for a series of follow-up cardiologic medical examination and consultation with his personal medical consultant between 22nd July 2024 and 10th September 2024.
“An order is made releasing the 1st defendant/applicant’s international passport number B50027568 in the custody of Deputy Chief Registrar of this Court to the applicant to enable him travel to the United Kingdom i.e, London Centre for Advanced Cardiology, 3rd Floor, 19 Harley, Street London, for series of follow-up cardiologic medical examinations and consultations with his personal medical consultant from 22nd July, 2024 and 10th September, 2024,” the Judge said.
Justice Egwuatu directed Bello to return the international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court on or before the 15th of September, 2024.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed an alleged money laundering charge against Bello, Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadi Sadat, listed as 1st to 4th defendants respectively. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Bello had, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/573/2022, sought an order permitting him to travel to the UK for a medical checkup.
In the application filed on April 5, the applicant sought two reliefs, including an order releasing his international passport in the custody of the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
Bello said the purpose of the routine cardiologic follow-up was to review his medication and undergo cardiac tests scheduled for July of each year and as required based on medical advice.
He said the court had, on two occasions, granted him leave to travel between August 2023 and December 2023 and that he did travel and returned the international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court before the expiration of the times granted and undertook to return the travel passport as he had always done if leave is granted and upon his return.
He equally undertook to be law abiding in the UK should his application be granted.
In opposition, the EFCC filed a counter affidavit of five paragraphs deposed by Abubakar Salihu Wara on April 19, 2024.
Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, lead counsel to the anti-graft agency, argued that Bello had not placed any medical report before the court to show the health condition that necessitated the medical appointment.
Oyedepo said that Exhibit ‘A’ attached to the application did not disclose the email address of the sender and the receiver of the said medical appointment and had not exhibited anything to show that Exhibit ‘A’ emanated from London Centre for Advanced Cardiology.
He argued that Bello might tamper with the evidence in the charges against him if the application is granted.
But Bello, in a further affidavit, disagreed with the EFCC’s submission.
Delivering the ruling, the judge asked if Bello had placed enough material before the court to enable the court grant the application.
According to Justice Egwuatu, it is on record that this court granted bail to the applicant and, “Since the grant of bail, he has not breached the terms of bail and has been coming to court to stand his trial.
“It is not controverted that this court had, on two previous occasions granted the applicant similar prayers. “On those two occasions, that is, between the 1st to 31st of August, 2023 and 17th of December, 2023 and 10th January, 2024, the applicant did not breach the terms of the permission granted.
“There is no evidence before this court that the applicant breached the terms of the grant or the terms of the bail granted to him by this court”, Justice Egwuatu held.
He said, “There is no evidence before this court that the name of the facility and address are not in existence and no contrary evidence disputing the fact that the applicant has a scheduled appointment with the said cardiologist.
“There is also no evidence before this court that the applicant while on bail did or attempted to interfere with evidence or collude with any person to tamper with evidence”.
Egwuatu, who said he believed the depositions of the applicant, said a defendant ought to be healthy to be able to stand the rigours of trial and subsequently granted Bello’s prayers being sought.
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