Three suspects,? Mahmud Tukur, son of the PDP? National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Abdullahi Alao, son of an Ibadan-based businessman, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arikesola-Alao; and Alex Ochonogor?? have urged a Lagos High Court to the release of their passports.
The suspects, who had been granted bail, are seeking the permission of the court to release their passports to enable them to travel abroad. The suspects are being prosecuted for conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, forgery and use of false documents.
In their application dated August 14, 2012 before the vacation Judge, Justice Lateefat Folami, lawyer to the suspects, Olaniran Obele said his clients needed the passports to travel to Paris and London for a business trip.
Mahmud, is seeking the release of his passport to travel abroad to attend some board and committee meetings and to perform the hajj.
In his own case, Ochonogor, wants to travel to Paris to enable him attend a board meeting which was rescheduled to August 27.
He told the court that his clients would not abscond should their application be granted.
Opposing the application, lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that Justice Adeniji Onigbanjo’s order asking the applicants to drop their passport had not been reviewed.
He said granting the suspects’ permission to travel could open escape route as was experienced in convicted James Ibori’s case.
Justice? Folami has fixed tomorrow for her ruling on the matter.