Former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda has applied to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja, for permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Yuguda, also a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirate (UAE), is being tried with ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki; ex-Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafara; his son, Sagir Dalhatu and two others on money laundering charges.
Yesterday, his lawyer, O. Obeya, informed the court about his client’s application to travel to Dubai, UAE, for an appointment with his doctor, Georgie Thomas, cardiologist with Burjeel Hospital, Dubai.
Yuguda is said to be suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cardiac malfunction, symptoms he developed while serving as the country’s ambassador in the UAE.
Although prosecution lawyer Oluwaleke Atolagbe did not object to the application, Justice Peter Affen declined to grant it on the grounds that it was incompetent.
The judge noted that although Obeya claimed Yuguda had a pre-scheduled medical appointment, he (Obeya) failed to produce evidence to that effect.
Justice Affen, who earlier noted that the first relief in the application, as couched by Obeya, was vague and allowed him to effect oral alteration to the prayer, however, observed that it would be wrong for the court to exercise discretion in vacuum where an applicant failed to provide the necessary materials.
Following intervention from lawyers to Dasuki and Bafarawa, Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Hakeem Afolabi (SAN), the judge agreed to allow Obeya withdrew the defective application and refile on a later date.
Following the withdrawal, Justice Affen struck it out and ordered Obeya to file a fresh one containing evidence that his client had a prior medical appointment with a foreign physician.
The judge adjourned till today to enable Obeya bring the application.
He ordered that the defendants need not be produced in court for today’s proceedings.
The judge earlier granted a similar application to Bafarawa, who was allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.
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