Sylva Seeks Court’s Permission to Travel Abroad

Sylva Seeks Court’s Permission to Travel Abroad

Timipre Sylva,

Tobi Soniyi

A former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, has applied to  a Federal High Court in Abuja where he is facing trial for corruption charges for permission to accompany his wife on a foreign trip.

His bail conditions require him to first apply and secure the court's permission before he can leave the country.
The ex-governor is standing trial before the court for alleged money laundering related offences.

In his application filed on May 16, Sylva said his wife was scheduled for surgery in a United Kingdom (UK) hospital and needed his company.
He  urged the court to release his international passport to enable him embark on the trip.

He promised to return for trial and to return the passport to the custody of the court.

Sylva said he filed the application because it was part of the conditions attached to the bail granted him last June, to always seek the court's leave before embarking on a foreign trip.

He said his wife needed a company for her trip and he was the readily available choice, being the husband.

However,  the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), the prosecuting agency, has objected to the application.
It has filed a counter affidavit to that effect.
It urged the court to refuse Sylva's application because he might  refuse to return for his  trial.

EFCC stated that since Sylva was arraigned in June last year and granted bail, it has unearthed fresh evidence  that the accused person allegedly engaged in fraudulent  acquisition of property through other private persons.
The commission further  stated that in view of the new discovery, it got a court order last December, freezing the new assets.

EFCC said investigation was still ongoing, and it could be jeopardised should Sylva be allowed to travel.

The commission stated that Sylva had, on several occasions, refused to honour its invitations, a development  that prompted his last arrest.

Sylva's application could however  not be taken yesterday because EFCC's lawyer, John Anietor, objected on the grounds that he was just served with the applicant's reply affidavit few minutes before the  court sat.

He prayed the court for time to enable him file a further affidavit in response to issues raised in Sylva's reply.

Although Sylva's lead lawyer, Isaac Olorundare (SAN), opposed an adjournment, the court said the EFCC's lawyer was entitled to a short time to file additional response.

Justice Adamu Bello, in a ruling, held in favour of the EFCC's lawyer and adjourned until May 28.