Court Allows Ozekhome Six-Week Medical Trip to UK

On Thursday, an Abuja High Court granted Mike Ozekhome, the first defendant in a forgery trial, permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment for six weeks. Ozekhome, alongside co-defendant Ponfa Useni, was arraigned on February 27 by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation on 12 counts related to border forgery and impersonation in a property ownership dispute in the UK.

Justice Chizoba Oji ruled on Ozekhome's application for temporary release of his international passport, which was ordered to be returned to the court by August 26. The prosecution failed to deposit Ozekhome's passport with the court, contrary to bail conditions.

Justice Oji directed the prosecution to present the passport during Thursday's proceedings. Ozekhome confirmed ownership of the passport, and the prosecution raised no objections to the temporary release request.

The six-week travel period is set from July 9 to August 20, with the trial adjourned until September 28.