Court Refuses Former Governor's Application to Travel Abroad

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Thursday refused the application by former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, to quash charge of stealing public funds and money laundering levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge, Justice Adamu Bello, also refused an application by Sylva for permission to travel to the United Kingdom, with his wife whom he said was scheduled to undergo a surgery in London.

The court held that the reasons advanced by the former governor to accompany his wife were suspicious.

The governor, however, rejected the ruling and said he had instructed his lawyers to immediately file an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Justice Bello, who had refused Sylva’s application to quash the charge against him on the ground that it lacked merit, also held that the former governor had a case to answer.
Similarly, Justice Bello also refused Sylva’s application for the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad with his wife, who is scheduled for surgery at a UK hospital tomorrow.

In refusing the application for the release of his passport, Justice Bello said he had painstakingly scrutinised the affidavit in support of the motion, the counter affidavit, further and better affidavit, a reply further and better affidavit as well as other processes served by both counsel and observed that the application was suspicious.

The judge noted  that a referral letter marked exhibit ‘AA’ tendered by Sylva’s lawyer, Isaac Olorundare (SAN), which he told the court was written by a medical consultant at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital to the Cromwell Hospital in UK was not replied.

“I observed that the referral letter written by a consultant at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital to the Cromwell Hospital in the UK was not replied by the UK hospital” the judge noted.

“Exhibit ‘A’ which was supposed to be a reply from the Cromwell Hospital, UK to the consultant at University of Port Harcourt was rather addressed to Mrs. Alaide Sylva, with her residential address in London,” Justice Bello observed.

The trial judge observed further that the letter rescheduling the date of the surgery booked for Sylva from May 22 to May 31, marked exhibit ‘B’ indicated that the operation needed urgency.

His Lordship held: “It has taken 28 days from the day the surgery was booked, now the operation has been rescheduled from May 22 to May 31; this change in dates negates the sense of urgency the operation of Sylva requires in the UK. It is the view of the court that the ailment is not a life threatening one.

“From the letters written to Sylva, it is visible that the Cromwell Hospital in UK is directly dealing with the patient who appears to be in London and not Nigeria.”
Justice Bello ruled that “the court’s observation is sufficient to raise suspicion that the truth has not been told the court by Sylva of his motive to accompany his wife abroad for a medical treatment."

He, therefore, prayed for the quick recovery of Sylva’s wife from the ailment, adding that the former governor should make an alternative arrangement on whom to accompany his wife abroad.

Justice Bello also said he was convinced by the submission of EFCC’s lawyer, John Ainetor, that Sylva was presently being investigated for sundry offences.

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