N650 million fraud: Court asked to reject politician’s medical trip request

* Otiti a flight risk, EFCC says

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos to dismiss an application filed by a ranking member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mrs Olanrewaju Otiti, seeking the release of her international passport to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Otiti is currently standing trial alongside a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, and another PDP leader, Senator Ayo Ademola Adeseun, over an alleged N650 million fraud.

They were docked before the court by the EFCC on an amended 24-count charge of an alleged N650 million fraud.

The money was said to be part of the $115 million allegedly shared by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 general election.

In opposing Otiti’s motion, the EFCC alleged that she is a flight risk and that it will be difficult to extradite her back to Nigeria if she decides to jump bail.

In a counter affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, John Micheal Idoko, the anti-graft agency, while arguing that the court’s jurisdiction does not extend beyond the shores of Nigeria, also maintained that there was no referral note from any hospital for Otiti to travel for any medical treatment.

It was further argued that the applicant (Otiti) has not placed any evidence before the court to show that she cannot be treated of her ailment in Nigeria.

“There is no fact within the content of this application and the supporting documents filed by the applicant did not state reasonable ground for this Honourable Court to grant her application but only to cast doubt in the mind of the court due to its variation,” the counter affidavit stated.

“Should the Honourable Court be inclined to granting the application, conditions that will ensure the applicant return to face her trial must be attached,” the deponent said.

In her application which was brought pursuant to court rules, Otiti is seeking the variation of her bail conditions to allow her access her international passport for a foreign medical trip.

Arguing the application, Otiti’s lawyer, Akinola Oladeji, pleaded with the court to grant his client permission to travel abroad because of her failing health.

“We have attached her medical report dated 11th July, 2018, from the University College Hospital (UCH), as well as her medical history from 2009 up till 2019 to prove the urgency of her the matter,” the lawyer said.

Ruling on the application has been reserved till September 11.