A former minister of finance, Nenadi Usman, is at the risk of losing her life to breast cancer if not granted urgent leave to travel abroad, Abiodun Owonikoko, her lawyer, told a federal court in Lagos on Wednesday.

Mrs. Usman is facing a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and money laundering alongside Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister; Danjuma Mohammed; and Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited amounting to over N38 billion.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Amidst a charged atmosphere on Wednesday, Mr. Owonikoko reminded the judge he had, at the last hearing date (December 2, 2016), filed an application seeking to retrieve his client’s international passport to enable her keep her medical appointment abroad.
The defence lawyer urged the court that the application be heard first.
But Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, noted that the defence team had already filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
“I am thinking that on the face of the motion, it has lapses,” Mr. Oyedepo said of the defence lawyer’s request.

“The issue first should be that the court handles the application challenging the jurisdiction of the court which is more urgent, except if my learned colleague wants to strike out that application and then we can handle this issue.
“I think it’s tidy, logical and legal to determine the propriety of our appearance before our Lordship before any other matter.”

Mr. Owonikoko responded that the motion for medical leave was filed first before the application challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
“The defendant has already missed her previous appointment in hospital and this is very serious because she has breast cancer which is threatening her life and we only ask that there be an unconditional release of her passport.
“There was no application opposing this motion, we have brought her medical reports and it was not opposed. Even the president of the country sought for ten days medical leave but we all know where we are now.”

Mr. Oyedepo objected to the defence lawyer’s claims saying that it was not in his position to give evidence.
“With all due respect to the counsel, the jurisdiction of the judge is being challenged and I think that it’s urgent.” But a visibly angry Mr. Owonikoko replied, “Why do we talk like this? If this defendant is bed-ridden, will this case go on?”

Justice Muslim Hassan asked Mr. Owonikoko, “If my jurisdiction is being challenged, shall I go ahead and hear any other case without first determining my jurisdiction?”
Responding, Mr. Owonikoko said, “It is not going to be palatable for a lady with breast cancer to be flying down from Abuja to Lagos, lodge in a hotel for a case that happened in Abuja.”
Mr. Oyedepo noted that the court sat during vacation and that there was no affidavit of urgency filed alongside the defence’s application.
“During your Lordship’s leave, this was not sought and obtained during the vacation bearing in mind that the defendant was supposed to fly on 20th December,” Mr. Oyedepo said.

“So the question to be asked is when does the application suddenly become urgent? The time for the defendant to fly has elapsed which was supposed to take place 20th December, 2016, and 20 January, 2017.
“When there are two issues before the court with one challenging the jurisdiction of the court and another on health issue, I only ask, which one should the court take first? Is it not lawful that the court handles the one challenging its jurisdiction.”

In his ruling, the judge held that he could not attend to the application seeking for medical leave while there is another application challenging his jurisdiction by the same applicant.
He then adjourned the case till March 1, 2017.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/223026-update-ex-minister-accused-n38-billion-fraud-fails-secure-court-permission-travel-abroad.html

Good.

Everyone (including we know who) is running "abroad", no more of that abeg, we are all in this together.

Where she dey go ?? When men money still dey Mmm Abi she don receive alert ?

Scammer

Nonsense. So we should now pity her abi? Does she know the money of people her own greed has sent to early graves? Moreover, what happened to getting treated in the country.

Funny people.

Are you saying we can't treat ordinary breast cancer in Nigeria? If we can't, then she should take a dose of her own medicine.

Yam eater everywhere

Make them die with their sickness. Build world class hospital no. Now una oga na him dey gallavant up and down uk like say na him backyard all in the name of medical checkup the useless man no even know the effect of wetin carbon footprint be.. dey burn jetfuel up and dan dey spoil ozone layer

ephi123:
Good.

Everyone (including we know who) is running "abroad", no more of that abeg, we are all in this together.

lol you dey vex oh.

She should be made to get treatment in Nigeria.

That includes ALL our political officers e.g. the President.

How can so much money be budgeted for the Aso Rock Clinic and our President would dash to UK just because of an ear infection? it's a great insult to all our ENT surgeons.

Regardless of how rich you're, our political leaders should be forced to get treatment in Nigeria. That way, they won't neglect our health infrastructure.

I support PMB, but that was a big gaffe on his part.

Nenandi shouldn't fake any illness, she should pay back the money she stole and serve a jail term.

Now.. Dieziani wen get cancer too... E never well.. E never die... But she and baba dey the same UK.. Dey collect drip.. Dey chill..

But wait first..
I saw her and ffk and belgore laffing and chatting away happily despite having corruption charges against her..

Its terrible where we have found ourselves...

I blame the masses tho

They expect a man worth over 500m naira to protest with them about hunger
. is he hungry?

We are our own nemesis

No just allow her step even into Ghana or cameroun ,we're in this together and must enjoy am together.

k

Accused! And she's being denied the opportunity to seek medical treatment. Nigeria has fallen into the hands of mad men

But buhari is in englsnb

i dont have to read because i know what this government is up to.

I CANT TRUST THIS GOVT

She Was Not Sick When She Was Looting The Nation Dry. Now That It's Time To Face Judgement... She Has Suddenly Become Sick.

Nobody, I Repeat, Nobody Should Let Her Out Of The Sight Of EFCC & DSS.

In Short, They Should Remand Her In Solitary Confinement At Kirikiri Maximum Prison With No Option Of Fine For 4 Years.

After That, She Can Face Trial And Be Sentenced To Another 14 Years In Prison And Banned From Politics For The Rest Of Her Miserable Life.

Her case is cancer.cancer is more deadly and complex and am quite sorry for the former minister.but Nigerians,malaria and its parasites which is very easy and cheap to treat is killing average citizen per minute and cos of heavy looting by this cancer woman and co.take treatment in Nigeria or die in Nigeria hospital

This medical excuse by corrupt official is not new again. They should devise another tactics pls.

ybalogs:
Are you saying we can't treat ordinary breast cancer in Nigeria? If we can't, then she should take a dose of her own medicine.

Remember buhari treated ear infection in London

Good for her.

. Such a shame we lot all morals in this country,






. They fall sick once they are caught, she wants to travel and cover her ass

Ka ja bi ka ku ko.......
Allow her Pls......

When for 5 solid years they were all stealing all kinds of money from nigeria due to the foolishness and support of ebeles government they were all as strong as the hulk! Now that they are being nabbed all of them are developing cancer featuring a.i.d.s!

Madam sit down and face the gbedu abeg!

Unfair, even the current commander-in-THIEF is currently on a similar trip!

she should go to any university teaching hospital /Aso rock hospital. .Dnt allow her to run away oo

jiinxed:
Accused! And she's being denied the opportunity to seek medical treatment. Nigeria has fallen into the hands of mad men

She cheats the system and hires a lawyer. The system cheats her and you say they're mad men.

calberian:


She cheats the system and hires a lawyer. The system cheats her and you say they're mad men.

Don't mind that defender if corruption...

Her lawyer, in a bid to get smarter and prolong the case, put her in this predicament. He challenged the jurisdiction of the court and now wanted the same court to rule on her medical situation. Idiotic lots!

No hiding place for thieves, they will use their own hands to heap more problems on their heads.