EFCC opposes Sylva’s bid to accompany wife to UK

Posted by admin Bayelsa, EFCC Politics, Headlines, State News Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday opposed former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipreye Sylva’s bid to accompany his wife to the United Kingdom, where she is scheduled to undergo surgery on May 31, 2013.

In an application argued by his counsel, Mr. O. I. Olorundare, Sylva asked an Abuja Federal High Court to release his international passport to enable him to undertake the trip.

The former governor’s counsel told the court that Sylva’s wife had been receiving treatment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, but “maybe because of the lack of experience or equipment in Nigeria, a referral has now been made to the Cromwell Hospital in London” for surgery.

But EFCC opposed the application, asking the court presided by Justice Adamu Bello to refuse it.

In what he described as a “vehement opposition”, EFCC counsel, Mr. John Aileto, said the application was nothing other than a ploy by Sylva and his wife to escape justice.

Aileto told the court that there were “pending allegations being currently investigated about the accused person (Sylva) and his wife, who now deliberately want to travel outside the shores of this country in order to escape investigation and possible trial, if need be.”

The EFCC counsel also asked the court to discountenance Sylva’s argument that he voluntarily returned his international passport after he was granted leave to travel abroad on a previous occasion.

He said it was not necessary for Sylva to accompany his wife to the UK hospital.

The counsel said, “It is trite in law that every application is determined with respect to its peculiar situation and circumstance, irrespective of previous circumstances.

“The application lacks merit and should be dismissed. It is a ploy to escape justice.”

Sylva, through his counsel, Olorundare, however, insisted that he would return to the country and submit his international passport to the court, once his wife received the medical attention.

Reacting to EFCC’s insinuation that charges might be brought against Sylva’s wife, Olorundare said, “Only the living can stand trial.”

He urged the court to grant the application.

Justice Bello fixed ruling on the application for May 30, 2013 (tomorrow).

-Punch

wp_posts