An application by a former minister, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda seeking leave to travel abroad for medical reasons has been dismissed by an Abuja High Court.

Ambassador Yuguda, who was a former Minister of State for Finance in the last administration, is accused of allegedly diverting the sum of N3.3 billion alongside retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser.

Other accused are Dalhatu Investment Limited as well as Shuibu Salisu, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi while dismissing the application said that it was frivolous and did not have the consent of the sureties.

“The court cannot grant such application without the persons that stood as sureties showing evidence of their consent, ” he said.

Adeniyi also said that the defendant failed to depose to any sufficient facts to enable the court grant his application.

“Therefore the application is dismissed,“ he stated.

Earlier, Yuguda’s counsel, Akin Ayodele, had told the court that he had filed an application on July 19 seeking the court’s leave for the applicant to travel to the United Arab Emirates for medical checkup.

He said that the application was supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit attached with documentary exhibits.

Ayodele said that Exhibit F was the most crucial, adding that it indicated that the court once granted a similar order to the applicant to travel and he returned to continue his trial.

“We attached also a further affidavit to show his appointment has been rescheduled by the doctor at UAE,’’ he said.

Opposing the application, the prosecuting counsel Henry Ejiga contended that it was an attempt to further delay the trial.

He said the application was baseless because the applicant had already been declared medically fit by two hospitals in Nigeria.

He urged the court not to grant the application.