A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted a long-time lawyer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, leave to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical treatment.
Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, alongside his younger brother, Erhunse, are facing $2 million laundering charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Nicholas Oweibo had granted the brothers N20 million bail.
Oweibo, on Thursday, granted one-month medical leave to Uyiekpen, while ruling on his application seeking to vary the terms attached to the bail.
The judge also ordered him to file an undertaking that he would return to the country after his treatment and that on his return to Nigeria, he would return the passport to the Court’s DCR.
Oweibo, however, rejected Erhunse’s application to visit the United States for follow-up treatment on a cough-related ailment.
EFCC had on August 14 arraigned the Giwa-Osagie brothers on two count charges of conspiracy and money laundering.
It alleged that the brothers, on February 12, 2019, conspired to launder $2 million cash, without going through a financial institution.
The offences, the prosecution said, contravened Sections 18(c), 18(a), 1(a), 16(1), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and were punishable under Sections 16, 16(2)(b)16(2)(b) of the same Act.
Each defendant denied the charges and was admitted to N20 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.
The court also ordered the brothers to deposit their international passports with the Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) till the determination of the charges against them.
