The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned ruling till July 17, 2025 on an application by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment. 

Presiding over the matter on Tuesday, Justice Maryann Anenih fixed the date after hearing arguments from counsel to both the prosecution and defence.

Bello, who is currently facing trial alongside two others for alleged misappropriation of ₦110.4 billion in public funds during his time as governor, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

The prosecution is led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), while the defence team is headed by Joseph Daudu (SAN).

Daudu informed the court that his client had filed a motion dated June 19 and submitted on June 20, seeking an order to temporarily retrieve his passport, which was deposited with the court registrar as part of his bail conditions.

The application, supported by a 22-Paragraph affidavit deposed to by Bello, included attachments, such as a medical report and an appointment letter from an overseas physician. 

Daudu argued that the motion was founded on 13 legal grounds and that the court’s earlier ruling in December 2024 had affirmed Bello’s right to seek such relief via a formal application.

He emphasised that the previous court decision did not impose a travel ban, nor did it specify particular conditions barring such medical travel. 

Referencing a Certified True Copy of the bail ruling, marked as Exhibit C, Daudu said Bello’s conduct had demonstrated compliance with the bail conditions, including regular court attendance and informing his sureties of his travel plans.

In a counter argument, Chukwudi Enyebili (SAN), representing the EFCC, urged the court to dismiss the application, describing it as an abuse of court process. 

He pointed out that Bello had filed a similar application before the Federal High Court, which is also pending a ruling, arguing that duplicating the request in multiple courts risked judicial inconsistency.

“The passport sought to be released is not before this court,” Enyebili said, adding that the order of the Federal High Court predates the current proceeding.

He also cast doubt on the medical documents submitted by the defence, noting inconsistencies such as the medical report being signed by a different doctor than the one who issued the appointment letter, and the omission of the physician’s qualifications and therefore dismissed the documentation as “a worthless paper.”

Enyebili further argued that Bello could obtain medical treatment within Nigeria, specifically in Kogi State, where he had inaugurated a state-of-the-art Reference Hospital. 

He warned that the international dimension of the case, which includes allegations of money laundering, made foreign travel by the defendant a potential threat to the trial’s integrity.

Responding, Daudu insisted that the application was valid and that courts of coordinate jurisdiction, including the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court, could independently rule on such matters without legal conflict.

Justice Anenih, after listening to both sides, adjourned the matter until July 17 for ruling.