Justice A. Kafarati of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday, June 3, 2015 adjourned to June 19, 2015 for ruling on the bail application brought by Franca Asemota, whose extradition is being sought by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Asemota’s counsel, Victor E. Ebonka
while moving the application, told the court that, the purported offence is
bailable in Nigeria and the UK.
Ebonka argued that his client is
constitutionally entitled to bail.
According to him, “the accused person
has not been investigated on the charges placed on her and therefore should not
be locked up until investigation is completed”.
Ebonka further told the court that, the
accused had a medical report from a hospital in Benin, Edo State and urged the
court to consider her for bail for health reasons.
Responding, P.U Akuta from the Attorney
General’s office, opposed the application, stating that a careful perusal of
the medical report brought by the accused shows that the report was likely
procured from a medical doctor who is not an expert in the field of the ailment
the accused person claimed to be suffering from.
Akuta further told the court that, the
detaining authority have enough medical facility and qualified personnel to
meet the medical needs of the applicant.
Justice Kafarati, after listening
to the arguments of both counsel adjourned for ruling on the bail application
and ordered the accused to be remanded in EFCC custody.
Asemota is wanted by the UK government
for trafficking of minors to Europe using London Heathrow airport as a transit
hub.
It will be recalled that, the suspect
was arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Wednesday, March 24, 2015 in Benin, Edo State on suspicion of money
laundering offences.
On arrest, checks on Asemota’s profile
revealed that she had been on the wanted list of the National Crime Agency, UK.
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