Friday, November 23, 2012

Court refuses EFCC's bid to confiscate Fayose’s passport


The attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to convince the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, to confiscate the international passport of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday failed, as the court held that he should hold on to the document on health grounds.

The EFCC counsel, Mr. Adeniyi  Adebisi, from Rotimi Jacobs Chambers, had  raised the issue of Fayose’s holding on to the travelling document at the resumed hearing of the money laundering charges brought against the ex-governor by the anti-graft body.

Justice Adamu Hobon, who is hearing the case afresh, said based on the fact that Fayose never breached any of the bail conditions granted him earlier, he could still hold on to the passport, even as his counsel, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi and Adebisi argued on the matter.

Adeniyi submitted that part of the seven conditions given to grant bail to Fayose on January 26, 2008 was to deposit his travelling document with the court and that anytime he wants to travel outside the country, he would apply to the court for it.

However, Owoseni averred that one of the judges that earlier heard the matter had granted that the ex-governor should hold on to the passport, as medical issues could arise at anytime and that it would take some time for both sides to approach the court on the matter.

Justice Hobon held that the court would allow the ex-governor to hold on to the passport and that the court would check previous records to know the true position of things.

 Earlier, Owoseni had raised objection to Adebisi’s appearance for the prosecution.

Justice Hobon, relying on the provisions of the Evidence Act, said Adebisi could act as the prosecution counsel.

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