The absence of Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja has stalled the ruling on detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan’s fresh bail application.
The matter, which was fixed for ruling today, could not proceed as Justice Nwite was said to have gone for the ongoing seminar at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja.
The ruling was subsequently fixed for October 11.
On September 4, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, vehemently opposed the bail application that Mr. Mark Mordi (SAN) had submitted on Gambaryan’s behalf, according to Persecondnews.
Iheanacho, who maintained that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) was providing the Binance executive with the best medical care, claimed that Gambaryan had previously rejected the State House Clinic’s medical intervention in Abuja.
The lawyer drew the attention of the court to the State House Clinic’s medical report.
He stated that despite the fact that Gambaryan’s ill-health was not as bad as it was being portrayed, the report showed that the defendant was dissatisfied with the medical attention being offered and rejected it.
The anti-graft agency’s lawyer urged the court to dismiss the fresh application.
He said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, wrote to the management of the NCoS, requesting Gambaryan’s medical records.
He stated that the NSA received a response from the NCoS on August 29 along with the Nizamiye Hospital report.
The report, according to him, showed that the NCoS has been providing Mr. Gambaryan with adequate medical care and has taken him to several hospitals, including the State House Clinic.
Iheanacho insisted that NCoS had the capacity to take Gambaryan to any hospital in Nigeria, adding that surgeons cannot force a surgery on the defendant without his consent.
He said Gambaryan “cannot suddenly become sick,” as is allegedly commonplace with some suspects facing trial.
Earlier, Mordi had prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, or alternatively, to admit him to bail for six weeks on the basis of ill-health.
He argued that, though the EFCC purportedly denied Gambaryan a serious health issue, the exhibits, including the medical reports, showed that he needed medical care.
The lawyer contended that Nigeria cannot manage Gambaryan’s health issue effectively.
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