Appeal Court orders release of Ibori’s passport

Hassan Ibrahim, Kaduna - 18.07.2008

The Court of Appeal in Kaduna on Thursday ordered the Federal High Court to release the diplomatic and international passports of former Governor James Ibori. The former governor of Delta State, who is standing trial for alleged money laundering, had challenged the ruling of the Federal High Court, which refused the variation of his bail terms for the purpose of securing his international passport.

He had argued that he needed the travel documents to enable him to obtain medical treatment overseas as well as visit his family.

The lower court refused the application on the grounds that the applicant failed to depose before it substantial evidence to support his claims.

However, in a unanimous ruling, the appellate court, presided over by Justice Amina Augie, said “you cannot give bail with one hand and take it away with the other’’.

The court, however, directed the applicant to report to the registrar of the Court of Appeal every eight weeks with effect from July 21 until his appeal before the court was determined.

Augie dismissed arguments linking the issues of money laundering involving Mrs Ibori to the application for the release of passport, describing it as “merely speculative”.

“The accused is a Nigerian, who has already been admitted to bail. The only issue before us is whether or not we have the powers to order the release of the travel documents and if we have, why not,’’ she said.