A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, Abraham Ehizojie.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the bench warrant on Tuesday over Ehizojie’s alleged refusal to produce the medical report of Tigran Gambaryan, an official of Binance Holdings Ltd, who is facing money laundering charges.
The judge gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, after the Binance executive was brought to court in wheelchair.
On July 5, Justice Nwite ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mordi said in court that the judge’s order had not been complied with.
The judge then asked a prison official who brought Gambaryan to court about the development.
The prison official said he got the court order and delivered the order to the doctor on July 9.
“He is not here and I expected him to be here,” he added.
The EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, told the judge that he thought that the medical officer would be in court today.
Mordi then prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the medical officer of the correctional centre to be produced in court in the next adjourned date.
The lawyer also asked the court to make an order for his client to be given hospital remand immediately so that thorough medical examination could be carried on him to know his true state of health.
Justice Nwite ordered that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for care for 24 hours at any time of his choice but under full security surveillance.
The judge adjourned the matter until October 11 and October 18 for continuation of trial.
