Former Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke, could not appear in court on Monday for the continuation of his money laundering trial because he is stranded in the United Arab Emirates where he tested positive for COVID-19.
His counsel, Kanu Agabi( SAN) gave this information to Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Adoke is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the case alongside a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar.
The court had on December 11, 2020 granted Adoke permission to travel abroad for medical examination and hf was mandated to return to the country on or before Jan 10 when his trial was scheduled to resume.
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But on Monday while explaining his client’s absence in court, Agabi told the presiding judge that the UAE authorities in Dubai held back Adoke who had tested positive for COVID-19.
He however added that Adoke who later tested negative could not return because of flight challenges.
“My Lord, let me apologise to you that the first defendant in this matter , Mohammed Bello Adoke, is not in court today due to circumstances beyond his control . I thank this court for granting him permission to travel abroad for medical examination.
“Before he left this country, he tested negative. But unfortunately while in the UAE , he tested positive at the point of his return to Nigeria . However, he is now negative after the treatment . But he was unable to get a flight to the country. Happily , he will return on January 12 , 2021, ” Agabi said.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter till between March 1 to 4
