Senator Rochas Okorocha Thursday sought for an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, to grant him leave to travel to the United States (US) for medical treatment.
Okorocha, through his lawyer, Daniel Alumun, made the plea when the matter came up before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Alumun, however, informed the court that he was unable to serve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the complainant/respondent, with the motion.
The EFCC counsel was not in court at Thursday proceedings.
Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter until July 6 for hearing of the motion.
In a motion on notice marked: FHC /ABJ/CS/28/2022 dated June 22 and filed June 27 by Okey Amaechi, SAN, Okorocha sought for an order granting him leave to travel outside Nigeria for medical treatment; and return before Nov. 7, being the next adjourned date for his trial.
The senator representing Imo West Senatorial District also sought a consequential order for the release of his Nigerian international travel passport booklet, which was deposited with the court registrar in partial fulfillment of the conditions for bail granted to him.
He further sought for “a consequential order that reliefs(1} and (2) above be communicated by the registrar of this honourable court to the Nigerian Immigration Service, to facilitate the passage of the applicant.
“An order directing the 1st defendant/applicant to return his international passport to the registrar of the honourable court upon his return to Nigeria.”
The lawmaker, who gave three grounds why the reliefs sought should be granted, said he was admitted to bail pending trial in charge number: FHC/ABJ/28/2022 and has duly complied with all the terms of the bail including depositing his travel documents with the registrar of the court.
He said prior to his arraignment, he “undergone medical surgery at the Ambulatory Surgery Center, Texas, United States of America for distal femur fracture, which he sustained in an accident.”
According to Okorocha, he has been on regular/scheduled care and treatment at the same Ambulatory Surgery Center, where he has been scheduled for further medical tests, observation and treatment on July 19, 2022 or immediately thereafter.
“That it is urgent that the 1st defendant/applicant (Okorocha) attends to his health as scheduled because the examination and treatment of his pains and ailment would be jeopardised if he fails to meet the scheduled medical appointment,” the motion added.
