
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
This follows an application by Gordy Uche, SAN, Ohakim’s counsel, asking the court to release Ohakim’s passport to enable him travel for routine medical checkup; an application that was not opposed by the prosecution.
Ohakim is expected to return his passport to the court not later than 48 hours upon his return in August.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the substantive case against the former governor is before Justice Adeniyi Ademola but he approached Justice Dimgba’s court because of the court’s vacation.
Ohakim was arraigned by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in July 2015 for allegedly purchasing a house in Abuja with a cash payment of N270 million, which he paid in dollars in November 2008, during his time as Governor.
The case has been on since then. The ex-governor filed a no-case submission on June 30 this year, asking the court to strike out all the charges against him. But Justice Ademola dismissed the application and directed Ohakim to open his defence.
The case was adjourned till October 10 and 13 for the defence to call its witnesses.