The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has opposed the request of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to travel abroad, saying it amounted to an abuse of court process.
The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said though the
defendant claimed he was suffering from hypertension and hypercalcemia or low
potassium, no evidence was adduced to show that it is a life-threatening
situation.
According to the prosecution, there are well-equipped
hospitals in the country that could effectively treat the ailments.
The EFCC counsel informed the court that Bello claimed that
he built ultra-modern hospitals with state-of-the-art facilities in Kogi while
he was governor.
He dismissed the medical report tendered by Bello, saying it
did not disclose the qualification of the doctor that signed it.
“This defendant insisted that the hospitals were built to
curb medical tourism,” the prosecution counsel added.
The anti-graft agency also informed the court that the
defendant was facing serious allegations that have international dimensions,
insisting he could be arrested by the Interpol once he leaves the shores of
Nigeria.
“This defendant is already on the red notice. The EFCC sent
a letter to the Interpol when he was playing games with the prosecution and he
was placed on the red list.
“He doesn’t know what is awaiting him there. He can be
Hushpuppied to the US or UAE. That is a risk because it will affect this
trial,” the prosecution counsel stated.
Noting that those who stood surety for the defendant were
not served with the application, EFCC accused the former governor of filing the
same application before an Abuja high court, where he is facing another charge.
The presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, after listening to both
parties, adjourned the matter for ruling.
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