The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned till July 17, 2025, to rule on an application filed by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, seeking the temporary release of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Maryann Anenih fixed the date after taking arguments from both parties in the matter.
Bello, alongside two others, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to ₦110.4 billion during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.
The EFCC’s legal team is led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), while Bello is represented by Joseph Daudu (SAN).
At the resumed hearing, Daudu informed the court that a motion dated June 19 and filed on June 20 had been submitted, seeking an order for the release of Bello’s passport, which is currently deposited with the court registrar as part of his bail conditions.
He stated that the application is supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Bello himself, along with attachments including a medical report and an appointment letter from his physician abroad.
Daudu argued that the request was made on 13 legal grounds, noting that the court had, in a previous ruling in December 2024, stated that if the defendant needed to travel, he could approach the court via a formal application.
He stressed that the ruling neither expressly barred foreign travel nor stipulated specific conditions for such a trip.
He also referred to a Certified True Copy of the court’s earlier bail ruling, admitted as Exhibit C, and argued that the passport release request aligned with the court’s earlier position.
Bello, he maintained, had consistently attended court proceedings, posed no flight risk, and had informed his sureties of his travel plans.
However, Chukwudi Enyebili (SAN), who appeared for the prosecution, opposed the defence’s application.
Enyebili, while adopting the EFCC’s 45-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by Abubakar Wara, described the defence application as an abuse of court process.
He noted that Bello had filed a similar application before the Federal High Court, which is also awaiting a ruling later this month.
He argued that seeking the same relief in two courts simultaneously undermines judicial integrity and risks conflicting rulings.
“The passport sought to be released is not before this court,” Enyebili asserted.
He added that the order of the Federal High Court predates that of the current case and urged the court not to issue any directive concerning a document not in its custody.
Enyebili also questioned the authenticity and credibility of the medical documents presented, claiming the medical report was signed by a different doctor than the one who issued the appointment, and that the report did not include the qualifications of the signing physician. He dismissed it as “a worthless paper.”
On the issue of healthcare options, the prosecution argued that Bello should seek treatment in Kogi State, where he reportedly commissioned an ultra-modern Reference Hospital designed to reduce medical tourism.
Citing the international dimension of the case, including money laundering charges, the prosecution warned that allowing Bello to leave the country could jeopardise the trial.
Enyebili also noted that Interpol had once placed Bello on a watchlist, although the defence maintained that this occurred before he appeared in court and was no longer in effect.
Responding, Daudu asserted that the defence had not breached any bail conditions, that the sureties were fully informed, and that courts of coordinate jurisdiction, the Federal High Court and FCT High Court, can each adjudicate on such applications independently without legal conflict.
After listening to the arguments from both sides, Justice Anenih adjourned the matter to July 17 for ruling.
