- Court Sets July 17 for Ruling on Yahaya Bello’s Medical Travel Request.
- EFCC opposes, citing risk of delay in corruption trial.
- Court sets July 17 for ruling on Bello’s travel request.
Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has fixed July 17, 2025, for a ruling on an application by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who is seeking the release of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that at the resumed hearing on Monday, Bello’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), told the court that the former governor had filed a formal motion to retrieve his passport on health grounds. He submitted that Bello urgently needs to travel overseas for medical attention.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Chukwudi Enebele (SAN), filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that granting the request might disrupt the ongoing trial over corruption charges brought against Bello.
In his response, Daudu informed the court that his client had filed a 20-paragraph further affidavit on July 7, personally deposed to by Bello himself. Two documents were attached to support the application—a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the High Court’s earlier ruling granting bail, and another from the Federal High Court, also admitting him to bail.
EFCC’s counsel argued that the motion was an abuse of court process, as a similar request had been filed at the Federal High Court. But Daudu maintained that both filings were legally necessary since charges were pending in both courts.
Enebele further insisted that Bello ought to have informed his sureties before making such a travel request, adding that filing similar applications in two courts could create confusion.
Daudu dismissed those concerns, insisting the sureties had already been briefed. He also described the INTERPOL red alert issued against Bello as a “dead argument.”
Justice Anenih, after hearing all submissions, adjourned the matter until July 17, 2025, for a ruling on whether the court will permit the release of the former governor’s international passport.
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