馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Bauchi Commissioner for Finance granted permission to travel for Hajj and surgery despite N4.6bn fraud charge
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Yakubu Adamu, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage and to undergo surgery. Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the temporary release of Adamu's international passport for his trip, scheduled from May 9 to May 28, 2026. Adamu is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC for alleged N4.6bn money laundering, alongside Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Limited. The court ruled that ill-health constitutes a special circumstance justifying the release of travel documents, emphasizing that access to proper healthcare is a constitutional and humanitarian right, irrespective of criminal allegations. This decision follows a previous rejection of a similar application, which the EFCC had opposed due to an unsigned affidavit and insufficient evidence that the surgery could not be performed in Nigeria. In the renewed application, Adamu provided additional documents, including a certified medical document and an appointment slip from Saint Xavier General Hospital in Saudi Arabia, which addressed the court's previous concerns. The EFCC alleges that funds related to a motorcycle supply contract for the Bauchi State Government were diverted, and the motorcycles were never supplied. Adamu has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was previously granted bail with conditions, including depositing his international passport with the court.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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