Shekarau fails to secure release of travelling documents

AFederal High Court in Kano has dismissed an application filed by Kano State former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau seeking for the release of his international passport.

Justice Zainab B Abubakar rejected the application, which was moved by the defense counsel, Barrister Abdul Fagge, on the grounds that it lacks merit.

Justice Zainab said “this honourable court impounded the international passport of the first defendant to ensure his appearance before the court whenever the need arises.

“I have reviewed all the grounds listed by the defense counsel while moving the application and the Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution which stated that the first defendant shall be presumed innocent until it is prove otherwise.

“However, based on the submission of the defense counsel, the application lacks merit and this court hereby dismissed the application for lacking of merit.”

Earlier in his submission, Barrister Fagge told the court that his client applied for the release of his traveling documents to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia perform lesser hajj.

He argued that “Prior to his arraignment, Shekarau has severally secured the release of his traveling passport by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and has never violated the conditions laid down by the commission.”

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Jonson Ojogbane, urged the court to exercise its to discretion while ruling on the application.

Daily Trust reports that Shekarau, former Minister of Foreign

Affairs Ambassador Aminu Wali and Engineer Mansur Ahmed were arraigned before the court by the EFCC on 6-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N950m.

The case continues on June 26.