By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Mr Godwin Kanu Agabi, has told a federal high court in Abuja that former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Malam Mohammed Bello Adoke, is stranded in the United Arab Emirate (UAE), where he tested positive for the COVID-19.
Agabi who is lead counsel to Adoke in alleged money laundering charges filed against him and a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conveyed the plight of Adoke to Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo on Monday.
Adoke was granted permission to travel abroad for medical examination on December. 11, 2020 following a plea to that effect.
The Judge, who ordered the release of the ex-AGF’s international passport to him, gave him the permission to travel between December.15 and January 10, 2021, a day before the scheduled resumption of trial.
However, at the resumed proceeding, Adoke was not in court prompting the senior lawyer to apologise to the court for his absence.
Agabi told Justice Ekwo that his client tested positive to Covid-19 at the point of his return to Nigeria, and was subsequently held back by the authorities.
The lawyer further told the court that Adoke later tested negative to the coronavirus after his treatment but was unable to get flight to the country as ordered by the court.
“My Lord, let me apologise to you that the 1st defendant in this matter, Mohammed Bello Adoke, is not in court today due to circumstances beyond his control.
“I thank this court for granting him permission to travel abroad for medical examination.
“Before he left this country, he tested negative. But unfortunately while in the UAE, he tested positive at his point of his return to Nigeria.
“However. he is now negative after the treatment but he was unable to get flight to the country. Happily, he will return tomorrow, January 12, 2021,” he said.
Agabi informed the court that an application dated January. 4 and filed same day, seeking for an extension of time to avail the 1st defendant of the opportunity to take care of himself had already been brought before the court.
He then prayed the court to extend the time within which Adoke would be allowed to appear in court for his trail continuation.
The senior lawyer however assured that the former Minister would make himself available for his trial in the next adjourned date.
The 2nd defendant’s (Aliyu Abubakar) counsel, Emmanuel. C. Ikechi, who held brief for Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, did not oppose the application.
Also, the prosecution counsel, Mr Bala Sanga, did not oppose the adjournment plea on the ground that he had been regular in court and in the interest of justice.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until March 1 to March 4 for trial continuation.