Joy Adegorite Wife Of NAMA Director' Abroad Medicare Stopped By EFCC.

Lagos – The EFCC has urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to reject a request for medical trip abroad by a staff of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) standing trial for money laundering.

The wife of one the directors of NAMA, Joy Adegorite, had pleaded with the court to allow her travel overseas for medical attention.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on April 12 arraigned the Managing Director of NAMA, Ibrahim Abdusalam, and six others over alleged N2.8 billion fraud before Justice Babs Kuewunmi.

They are facing a 21-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and money laundering.

The offences were alleged to have been committed between August 2013 and January 2016.

The six others charged with Abdusalam are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, Bola Akinribido and Sesebor Abiodun.

Five companies — Randville Investment Ltd, Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd, Delosa Ltd, Airsea Delivery Ltd, and Sea Schedule System Ltd – were also charged with the defendants.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bails.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, counsel to the fifth accused, (Adegorite), Mr A.B. Onifade, informed the court of his application, seeking the release of his client’s passport.

Onifade said Adegorite needed to travel to Dubai for medical treatment.

According to him, the woman is suffering from acute sinusitis, asthma, hypertension and heart disease.

He said she had earlier scheduled a medical appointment before she was arrested in April.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, however, opposed the application, describing it as a ploy to frustrate the trial.

He told the court that there were indications that the fifth defendant would jump bail and frustrate trial if allowed to travel.

Mohammed urged the court to refuse the application.

Justice Kuewunmi has fixed July 15 for ruling on the application.

Others charges the accused are facing include inducing NAMA to deliver part of the N2.8 billion in several tranches to three companies — Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

The defendants were alleged to have collected the money on the pretext that the money was the cost of clearing some consignments belonging to NAMA.

They were also accused of fraudulently converting part of the money to the personal use.