Ex-Minister Akinjide seeks court’s leave to travel abroad

A FORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to release her international passport to enable her travel abroad.

Akinjide, who is on trial for alleged money laundering, said she plans to travel on March 7 and return on March 23.

Justice Muslim Hassan adjourned till January 28 to hear the application.

Akinjide’s lawyer Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) told the court that his client intends to embark on a two-week trip outside the country.

The SAN said the application, which he described as harmless, was ripe for hearing.

Besides, he said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not file any objection to the application.

But, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court not to hear Akinjide’s application yet.

He said the former minister’s co-defendants filed separate applications to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.

“In a joint trial, two parties are saying the court lacks jurisdiction, another party is seeking the court’s discretion. It is technically incorrect to say that the applications are not inter-woven,” the prosecutor said.

Justice Muslim Hassan said though he did not think that the applications were inter-woven, it would be more convenient to consider the three applications together and deliver a joint ruling.

The EFCC arraigned Mrs. Akinjide along with a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Oyo State Chief Olarenwaju Otiti, a former Senator representing Oyo Central Ayo Adeseun and a former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large.

The EFCC accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of N650 million, which they reasonably ought to have known was part of proceeds of an unlawful act, and without going through a financial institution.