Enugu — The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) yesterday opposed the application by the former Edo State Governor, Mr Lucky Igbinedion before the Federal High Court Enugu to travel to three countries, including the United States of America and United Kingdom .

Igbinedion who is standing trial at the court in a case of alleged money laundering and various corrupt enrichment while in office brought against him by the EFCC had through his lawyer , Mr Adetunji Oyeyepo applied for permission to travel abroad for medical check-up and also to see his family.

Oyeyepo had said that the application had become necessary since it was part of the conditions for his bail that he (Igbinedion) must obtain the permission of the court before traveling out of the country.

He told the court that since the applicant had earlier been granted bail based on stipulated conditions which he met, Igbinedion was "eminently qualified" to be allowed to travel, adding that since he submitted himself willingly to the EFCC , he will not jump bail now.

"Part of the conditions for bail which your Lordship gave is that the applicant cannot travel out of the country without an order of the court. That order envisages that the applicant might actually require to travel out of the country. We believe the order was to be able to keep the track of the applicant to know if he is in the country or outside the country, if outside, which country or countries.

" Paragraph 6,7,8,9,10 state clearly the countries the applicant wants to travel to, and reasons for the travel. He has laid all his cards on the table, " Oyeyepo told the court.

But counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Adebisi Adeniyi in his reply said that the Commission was opposed to the application to travel, arguing that granting such request would amount to burying the bail conditions.

Faulting the reasons Igbinedion gave for applying to travel, Adeniyi said that these were flimsy and not sufficient for the court to entertain.

On the desire to seek medical attention abroad, he argued that it was amazing that no evidence of the applicant having appointment with any Medical Doctor abroad was attached, noting that there is nothing to show that the ex-governor needs serious medical attention.

Adebisi observed that though the applicant had indicated that he wants to travel on March 20, and come back in about two weeks time, he was silent on the very day he would return to the country, adding that it could take longer than two weeks, a development which according to him would affect the accelerated hearing of the case.