Court denies Bayelsa judge leave to travel abroad

Efforts by a judge of the Federal High Court in Bayelsa Division, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, to secure a leave to travel abroad for training failed yesterday. He is currently standing trial over alleged unlawful financial enrichment at a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere.

His bid flopped as the court could not hear his application following refusal of service by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).When the motion, filed before vacation judge, Justice K .O Dawudu, came up for hearing yesterday, counsel to the defendant, I. B. Mohammed, informed the court that the anti-graft agency refused service.
 
Nganjiwa was arraigned on June 23,2017 by the commission on a 14-count charge bordering on unlawful financial enrichment to the tune of $260,000 dollars and N8.7 million (approximately N81.7 million). He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. 

Mohammed also told the court that its sheriff, Ahmed Olakunle, went to the office of the commission on July 19, but that the officer at the agency’s legal department refused service, saying: “Except he is given an instruction by the prosecutor handling the case, he can not accept service”. 

The judge therefore ruled: “I will give them the opportunity to come, for the hearing of the motion dated July 12, 2017. I hereby order that hearing notice be served on the respondent.”Consequently, he adjourned the matter till 11:00 a.m. today for hearing.