Posted by By GODWIN TSA, Abuja on
Reprieve came the way of founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun on Tuesday, with the approval by the Federal Government for him to seek medical treatment abroad.
Reprieve came the way of founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun on Tuesday, with the approval by the Federal Government for him to seek medical treatment abroad.
Dr. Fasehun had on Thursday, March 16, 2006, collapsed at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is standing trial with six others for alleged treasonable felony and other sundry offences.
The Federal Government said the OPC leader should be restricted to St. Francis Hospital in New York, USA, where he sought to seek medical treatment. Also, it says that the American government would be informed of Fasehun's presence in New York and that he is undergoing trial in Nigeria.
Counsel to Fasehun, Kayode Ajulo, while moving his application for bail informed the court that his client, who is advanced in age and terribly ill, is in urgent need of a review of heart by-pass surgery at Francis Hospital-Heart Center, Roslyn, New York, United States.
He also told the court that Fasheun 'is frail in health due to the long detention and a diabetic patient in need of constant medical attention."
Citing relevant legal authorities to support his application, Ajulo submitted that his client would not interfere with the investigation of the Nigerian police or any other law enforcement agency whatsoever."
He assured the court that his client 'will produce reliable and dependable sureties as may be required by the court and would not jump bail if granted."
While giving the background of the case, Ajulo said his client had been in detention since October 22, 2005 and arraigned before the court in December, 2005 on a three-count charge that are bailable. He tendered the following documents to convince the court to grant his application: A copy of the referral form from Maitama Hospital to National Hospital, Abuja; a copy of the medical report and recommendations by the National Hospital on the state of health of the applicant and a copy of the letter of the applicant's surgeon in United States indicating his team's readiness to do the review of the heart surgery in the United States.
The prosecution counsel and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Salihu Aliyu, did not oppose the bail application, saying it was the discretion of the court to grant it. He told the court that Fasehun be allowed to travel abroad but that he should be restricted to Francis Hospital in New York.
Aliyu however, urged the court to ensure that the accused person provides reasonable sureties who must have landed property in Asokoro and Maitama districts of Abuja, adding that the sureties must include two first class traditional rulers.