The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed an application filed by former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, seeking to travel for urgent medical treatment in the United States of America.
Mr. Nnamani is being tried before a Federal High Court in Lagos alongside others for allegedly defrauding his state to the tune of N4.5 billion.
The ex-governor had filed the application through his lawyer, Ricky Tarfa, stating he needed to urgently travel to the US to attend to his health.
The application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by one Ayo Ambali, who stated that sometime in 2008, Mr Nnamani was diagnosed of having ‘hypercloclesterolemnia and a high level serum Prostrate Surface Antigem (SPA) for which he went to the United States of America severally for medical treatment.’
The deponent added that after carrying out series of examinations and tests on Mr Nnamani, his personal physician advised that he come to the United States for compulsory intermittent medical check-ups and treatments.
But the EFCC, in its counter-affidavit, dismissed the application as an attempt to further delay the matter, stressing that the ailment for which Mr Nnamani seeks to travel abroad could be treated in Nigeria.
According to the counter-affidavit deposed to by Ahamefula Ken Mbaeri, the anti-graft agency said the former governor was also standing trial before an Enugu State High Court, and that granting the application would jeopardize the case, which is to come up on 29 April 2013.
The Commission, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application.
When the case came up on Monday, Mr Tarfa moved the application on behalf of the former governor, while the EFCC’s lawyer, Kelvin Uzozie is to adopt his counter-affidavit on Tuesday.
According to the matter, Mr. Nnamani, who was first arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar, was re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yinusa on a 105-count charge of money laundering and economic crimes.
The ex-governor was docked alongside his ex-aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms linked to them.
They are: Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate Nig Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
The financial impropriety was allegedly committed while Mr Nnamani was governor between 1999 and 2007.
Source:Channels
