SunTrust Bank MD Seeks Court Approval for Medical Travel

Halima Buba, the Managing Director of SunTrust Bank Ltd, filed a motion in the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 2, 2025, seeking permission to travel to the United States for urgent medical treatment related to pregnancy complications. Buba is currently facing six counts of money laundering, with allegations of a $12 million fraud, and was arraigned on July 13, 2025.

She was granted bail of N100 million, with her international passport deposited with the court registry. In her application, Buba's counsel, Johnson Usman SAN, argued that her medical condition required immediate attention from specialists in the U.S.

Buba assured the court of her return after treatment. However, the EFCC's lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, opposed the application, arguing that Buba had not sufficiently demonstrated the necessity of traveling abroad for treatment and raised concerns about her potential to evade trial.

The court has yet to make a decision on the matter.