From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court yesterday granted former Head of Service (HoS), Stephen Oronsaye, permission to travel out of the country for a routine medical check-up and treatment of an undisclosed ailment.
Oronsaye and five others are facing an amended 35-count charge bordering on corruption, fraud and money laundering, proffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Oronsaye is being charged along with Osarenkhoe Afe, Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment and Construction Company Limited. Justice Kolawole acted on the basis of an application brought by counsel to Oronsaye (first defendant), Mr. Kola Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), which sought the release of his client’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical attention.
Meanwhile, the court, yesterday, commenced hearing of a trial-within-trial, occasioned by an objection by counsel to the second defendant, Oluwole Aladedoye, who had opposed attempt by the prosecution to tender as exhibit, the extra judicial statement of the second defendant. In the meantime, counsel to Oronsaye, Okeaya-inneh, who stood in for the defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who was involved in the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, drew the court’s attention to an application dated 11th December, 2015.
In the said application, the first defendant prayed the court for the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical attention.
Although the prosecution counsel, Leke Atolagbe, did not oppose the application, he urged the court to attach some conditions that would enable the applicant to return and face his trial.
But, Justice Kolawole, before ruling on the application, noted that the first defendant was granted bail on self recognition and as such the court would need something to rely on before the release of the applicant’s international passport.
Responding, Atolagbe suggested that the court vary the bail condition to allow Oronsaye bring surety before the court or the court gives some other conditions.
But Okeaya-Inneh was quick to remind the court that three other senior advocates, Kanu Agabi, Joe Agbi and himself had earlier guaranteed the first defendant when he was admitted on bail and are willing to do so again even if it means “putting their career on the line”.
Kolawole in his ruling ordered that the international passport of the first defendant in the custody of the Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), Litigation be released to the lead counsel of the first defendant, adding that the first defendant takes advantage of the 2015/2016 Summer Recess which starts from July 12 to September 12, 2016, to attend to his medical needs.