The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday told a Federal High
Court in Abuja that the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, might
escape trial if allowed to travel out of the country.
Sylva,
who is standing trial before the court for alleged money laundering related
offences, is asking the court for permission to accompany his wife on a foreign
trip.
When
the matter came up yesterday, counsel to Sylva, Mr. O.I Olorundare (SAN) told
the court that the ex-governor's wife was scheduled for surgery in a United
Kingdom hospital on May 31 and needed his company.
He,
therefore, urged the court to release his international passport to enable him
embark on the trip. Sylva, however, promised to return for trial and to also
return the passport to the custody of the court.
The
former governor said the grounds for his application was that it was part of
the conditions attached to the bail granted him June last year, to always seek
the court's leave before engaging in foreign trip.
However,
EFCC in objecting to the application filed a counter-affidavit to that effect.
Counsel
to the anti-graft agency, John Arieto, urged the court to refuse Sylva's
application on the grounds that he could refuse to return for trial.
He
noted that since Sylva was arraigned in June last year and granted bail the
agency had unearthed fresh evidence that the accused person allegedly engaged
in fraudulent acquisition of property through other private persons.
Arieto
added that the commission was also ready to file charges against Sylva's wife.
The
commission further stated that in view of the new discovery, it got a court
order last December, freezing the new assets.
EFCC
said investigation was still ongoing and it could be jeopadised should Sylva be
allowed to travel.
The
commission stated that Sylva had, on several occasions refused to honour its
invitations, a development that prompted his last arrest by its operatives.
After
listening to argument of both parties, the trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello,
adjourned till tomorrow for ruling.
Source: Thisday
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