In confirmation of Pointblanknews.com exclusive report, Kanu Agabi, SAN,
\nLawyer of Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of
\nJustice, Mohammed Adoke, has confirmed that the former AGF, is stranded
\nin the United Arab Emirates where he tested positive for the COVID \u2013 19.<\/p>\n
Agabi, lead counsel to Adoke in the alleged money laundering charges
\nfiled against him and a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar, by the Economic and
\nFinancial Crimes Commission, conveyed his client’s predicament to
\nJustice Inyang Eden Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.<\/p>\n
Adoke was granted permission to travel abroad for a medical examination
\non December 11, 2020, following a plea to that effect.<\/p>\n
Justice Ekwo, who ordered the release of Adoke’s passport to him, said
\nhe should travel between December 15 and return on January 10, 2021, a
\nday before the trial’s scheduled resumption.<\/p>\n
But at the resumed proceedings, Adoke was not in court, prompting Agabi,
\na former AGF and Minister of Justice to apologise.<\/p>\n
Agabi told Justice Ekwo that his client tested positive for COVID-19 at
\nthe point of his return to Nigeria, and was subsequently held back by
\nthe authorities of UAE in Dubai.<\/p>\n
The lawyer also told the court that Adoke later tested negative for the
\ncoronavirus after his treatment but was unable to return to the country
\nas ordered by the court due to flight challenges.<\/p>\n
He said, “My Lord, let me apologise to you that the first defendant in
\nthis matter, Mohammed Bello Adoke, is not in court today due to
\ncircumstances beyond his control. I thank this court for permitting him
\nto travel abroad for medical examination.<\/p>\n
“Before he left this country, he tested negative. But unfortunately,
\nwhile in the UAE, he tested positive at the point of his return to
\nNigeria. However, he is now negative after the treatment. But he was
\nunable to get a flight to the country. Happily, he will return on
\nJanuary 12, 2021.”<\/p>\n
Agabi informed the court that an application dated January 4 and filed
\nthe same day, seeking an extension of time to avail the 1st defendant of
\nthe opportunity to take care of himself, had already been brought before
\nthe Court, Punch reports.<\/p>\n
He then prayed the court to extend the time within which Adoke would
\nappear in court for continuation of trial.<\/p>\n
However, the ex-AGF assured the court that the former Minister would
\nmake himself available for his trial in the next adjourned date.<\/p>\n
Emmanuel Ikechi, counsel to the 2nd defendant (Aliyu Abubakar), who held
\nbrief for Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), did not oppose the application.<\/p>\n
The prosecution counsel, Bala Sanga, did not also oppose the adjournment
\nplea on the ground that Adoke had been regular in court and the interest
\nof justice.<\/p>\n
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter till between March 1 to 4
\nfor the continuation of trial.<\/p>\n
In confirmation of Pointblanknews.com exclusive report, Kanu Agabi, SAN, Lawyer of Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has confirmed that the former AGF, is stranded…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n