Mohammed Adoke, the former Minister of Justice and former Attorney General of the Federation has filed an application at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court seeking to extend his medical trip by two weeks in the alleged money laundering case against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On October 8, 2021, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted Mr Adoke leave of court to travel to the UAE between October 11 and November 15 for a medical trip; he also ordered his lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) to give an undertaking that his client will return to face trial.
In a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/39/2017 and dated November 10 before justice Ekwo, Mr Adoke through his lawyer, sought the court to extend his stay in Dubai by two weeks.
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What happened in court
Adoke’s lawyer, Edidiong Usungurua prayed the court to grant his client’s application. He said the application was brought pursuant to Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
“The 1st defendant/applicant is praying for an order of the court, extending by two weeks (that is, from Nov. 15 to Nov. 30, the time within which the 1st defendant/applicant may stay in the UAE, Dubai, having not rounded off his medical procedures.”
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Mr Usungurua moved the motion on notice and told the court that the application was filed on the ground that the ex-minister was yet to round off his medical procedures.
Counsel to EFCC, Nnenna Oko did not oppose the application by Mr Adoke’s Lawyer.
Justice Ekwo, in his ruling, granted the prayer of the defendant and ordered that the trial will still continue on the earlier adjourned date which is December 6, 2021.
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What you should know
- The judge ordered that Adoke’s travels document be returned to the court’s registry upon his return from the trip.
- Adoke is being prosecuted alongside Aliyu Abubakar by the EFCC on 14 counts amended charges bordering on money laundering.
- On April 6, 2010, Mr Adoke was appointed Attorney General of Nigeria and Minister of Justice by President Goodluck Jonathan.
