Nnamani gets court’s nod for foreign medical trip

JUSTICE Mohammed Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, Wednesday granted former governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Delivering his ruling on the application to travel abroad for medical care, the judge said that Nnamani was free to travel to the United States on health ground.

He sais: “It is, therefore, my considered opinion that the first accused/applicant has fulfilled the requirement and the conditions provided under the bail bond by seeking leave of court before embarking on the medical treatment in the United States of America.”

According to the court, denying the request of the former governor, as contained in his application, would amount to altering the bail conditions earlier granted him in 2007. The judge added: “To insist on or to compel the applicant to provide reasons or justification will amount to altering the order of the court granting bail to the accused/applicant.”

However, he ordered that Nnamani must appear in court at the next adjourned date (May 28), and must also submit his passport and file a notice of return to Nigeria.

Nnamani was in August 2007 arraigned alongside others for alleged money laundering involving about N4.5 billion.

The court had previously permitted him to travel abroad on health ground for four times. He and others were re-arraigned before Justice Yinusa on 105 counts of money laundering and economic crimes.

The accused were alleged to have committed the offences between 1999 and 2007 while Nnamani was governor of Enugu State. Others standing trial with him are his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms allegedly linked to them.

The firms are: Rainbownet Nigeria Ltd, Hillgate Nigeria Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.