Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of Federal High Court, Bayelsa, on Thursday filed an application before a vacation judge of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, to enable him to travel abroad for training.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the defenadnt on June 23 on a 14-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment to the tune of N81.7 million.
He pleaded not guilty to all the 14 counts.
The vacation judge, Justice K. O. Dawudu, however, granted him bail on self-recognizance.
He ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the Chief Registrar of the court within seven days of the ruling and the case was adjourned until Oct. 6 for hearing.
On July 20, counsel to the defendant, Mr I. B. Mohammed, told Justice Dawudu that he filed a motion seeking the leave of court to allow Nganjiwa to travel abroad for a training.
However, the case could not go on because EFCC had refused to accept service of the motion paper, adding that the counsel to the commission was not in court.
Mohammed told the court that a hearing notice for the application was taken to the EFCC’s Legal Department by the Sheriff of the court for service, but the commission refused to accept the hearing notice.
Justice Dauwdu, however, said: “I will give them the opportunity to come for the hearing of the motion; I hereby order that hearing notice be served on the respondent (EFCC).”
Consequently, the judge adjourned the case until July 21 for the hearing of the application to travel overseas. (NAN)