A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Maitama has declined the request of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to release his international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday by Justice Maryann Anenih, the court stated it could not grant the application because the defendant’s passport was not in its custody. According to the judge, Bello’s travel documents are currently with the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, where he is also facing a separate criminal charge.
The court emphasized that issuing such an order would be ineffective since it lacked jurisdiction over the document in question. Consequently, the matter was adjourned to October 8 and 9, and November 13, 2025, for the continuation of hearing.
Bello, who is standing trial on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering to the tune of N110 billion, had urged the court to grant him leave to travel to the United Kingdom for a scheduled medical checkup on the advice of a cardiologist.
His legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Joseph Daudu, assured the court of his client’s commitment to return for the continuation of trial.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the application, arguing that the former governor posed a significant flight risk and had already filed a similar request before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a counter-affidavit, the EFCC warned that granting the request would amount to an abuse of court process and risk creating a jurisdictional clash between two courts of equal standing. “If the Federal High Court refuses that application and my lord grants it, it will make a mockery of our judicial system,” said EFCC counsel, Mr. Chukwudi Enebele, SAN.
The EFCC also faulted the defendant for not notifying his sureties about the travel application, stating that their awareness was necessary to determine if they were still willing to stand in for him should he jump bail.
Additionally, the prosecution noted that Bello had previously been placed on Interpol’s red notice and could face arrest if allowed to leave Nigeria.
Bello governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024 and is being tried alongside two former state officials—Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—on charges bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and unlawful possession of property.
The properties allegedly acquired using diverted public funds include:
No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja – N950 million
No. 1160, Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja – N100 million
No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja – N920 million
Block D, Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja – N170 million
Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja – N60 million
No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja – N310.4 million
Hotel apartment at Burj Khalifa, Dubai – AED 5,698,888
He is also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank in the United States and receiving N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited under questionable circumstances.
While his co-defendants were granted bail after initially being remanded, Bello was later admitted to bail in December 2024 in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum.
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