The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, July 21, dismissed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s application for the release of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled against the request during the resumed hearing of the money laundering case brought against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge noted that the medical report submitted in support of the application was unsigned by its author, thereby lacking legal validity and probative value. Consequently, Bello failed to provide sufficient evidence for his passport to be released.
While rejecting the EFCC’s claim that the application was an abuse of court process, Justice Nwite explained that the court’s and the FCT High Court’s jurisdiction are coordinate. He also clarified that any prior rulings requiring leave before travel did not render the current application improper.
Bello, through his lawyer Joseph Daudu, SAN, had sought permission to travel to the United Kingdom citing a 15-year history of hypertension, supported by medical exhibits. However, the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the motion on grounds of procedural defects and argued that similar relief had been sought before and denied by the FCT High Court.
The court adjourned the matter for continuation of trial on October 7, October 10, November 10, and November 11.
