Th e Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday granted former Adamawa governor, Murtala Nyako, permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Th e court also granted Zulkifi k Abba, who is the 3rd defendant in the suit, permission to travel abroad. Justice Okon Abang gave the permission after hearing two applications fi led by Messrs. Nyako and Abba’s counsel seeking permission to travel. Abang in his ruling said that he granted the application since the prosecuting counsel raised no objection.
Th e judge further said he was inclined to grant the permission because Messrs. Nyako and Abba as well as the other defendants were always in court for their trial. “Th e 1st defendant has not taken any step to truncate or frustrate his trial; and has always conducted himself well and obediently before the court. “In the case of the 3rd defendant, he has been granted leave to travel abroad before and he honoured the conditions given him by the court, especially by returning his international passport to the court authority as ordered.
“I have no reasons at all to doubt the sincerity of the 1st defendant in travelling abroad for medical checkup and the 3rd defendant to see his family overseas. “I am inclined to grant the two applications and therefore make the following consequential orders. “Th e Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Abuja is ordered to temporarily release the international passport of Nyako to enable him travel to Germany for a routine medical check-up. “Th e passport of the 3rd defendant should be released to enable him travel to the United Kingdom to see his children who are citizens there.” Abang ordered that the two defendants should return their passports to the chief registrar on or before September 25. He adjourned the matter until September 25 for continuation of trial. (NAN)
