Emefiele’s lawyer, Labi-Lawal, had filed an affidavit on Monday, July 8, 2024, requesting the release of his passport for the medical trip. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by prosecution counsel Muhammad Abbas Omeiza, opposed the application. Omeiza argued that there was no medical report before the court confirming any ailment and that no evidence had been presented to show that the alleged condition could not be treated in Nigeria.
The prosecution further noted that Emefiele had deposited his passport with the court as part of his bail conditions, and releasing it would constitute a variation of these conditions. Omeiza also argued that Emefiele was a flight risk, citing his connections with co-conspirators abroad and his ongoing trials in three different courts.
In response, the defence dismissed the prosecution’s claims as speculative and suggested that an international red alert could be issued for Emefiele’s arrest if he failed to return from the medical trip.
In his ruling, Justice Mu’azu stated, “It is an exercise of the court’s discretion to allow the defendant to go on a medical trip. The defendant, through his counsel, undertook an affidavit to produce him in court, and his offences are bailable. However, I failed to see any letter of medication in the defendant’s applications. As it stands, I cannot exercise my discretion to allow the defendant to travel out of the shores of the country, moreover, he is also standing trial in three other courts. Therefore, the application has failed and is hereby dismissed.”
The EFCC is prosecuting Emefiele on 20 amended charges, including the conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and obtaining by false pretenses, totaling $6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars).
