A vacation court in Port Harcourt yesterday ordered the release
of the passport of the Leader of the state House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, to
enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
Lloyd’s passport had been seized by the police in the
wake of his arrest following the July 9 fracas on the floor of the State House
of Assembly.
The police slammed him with six-count charge of
conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, intention to cause grievous harm,
assault occasioning harm, causing grievous harm, and malicious damage (of
government property), after the bloody fight
His victim was named as a fellow lawmaker, Michael
Okechuku Chinda.
Lead counsel to Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the 27
lawmakers loyal to the governor in the ongoing political impasse in the state,
Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), confirmed the release
of the passport.
Justice Sobere Biambo ordered the passport released
following an application by Lloyd to allow him access to urgent medical
treatment overseas.
Lloyd, through his lawyer, told the court that his health
was failing and his medical doctor here in Nigeria had referred him to a London
hospital for adequate attention.
He attached two different medical reports issued by his
doctor in which urgent overseas medical attention was recommended.
Lloyd was granted six weeks to undertake the treatment
and return the documents to the court.
Nwofor said: “We applied to a vacation court for his
passport to be released to enable him travel for medical treatment. After he
was released, his doctors examined him on two different dates and issued a
medical report that showed extreme urgency, and noted that the medical
facilities needed for his treatment are not readily available here in our
vicinity. Because of that, he needed to travel abroad.
“In fact, they made a specific referral to a hospital in
London where he could obtain adequate medical treatment. As you know, he cannot
travel without his passport. Based on those two medical reports, we had to go
to a vacation court, which is a court set aside for urgent matters.
“These two medical reports were not there at the time
Justice Letam Nyordee granted him bail. There was fresh evidence that emanated
following his health condition after he was granted bail.
“As a result of this, we approached the vacation court
and we are happy that the judge saw merits in the application and granted it.
“The court made an order for him to return it on or
before October 28. So, there is no cause for alarm.”
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