Yahaya Bello’s UK Medical Trip Stalls Again

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has clarified that it does not have custody of the international passport belonging to former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

The clarification came on Thursday during proceedings on a motion filed by Bello seeking the temporary release of his passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.

At a previous sitting, Bello’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued the application on 13 grounds.

He cited a December 2024 ruling in which the court stated that the defendant could make a formal request if he needed to travel, noting that the court neither barred Bello from travelling nor imposed any conditions.

Daudu also referenced a Certified True Copy of the court’s earlier bail ruling (tendered as Exhibit C), stressing that his client had faithfully complied with court orders, regularly attended proceedings, and posed no flight risk.

He added that Bello had notified his sureties of his intent to travel.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the request, describing it as an abuse of the court process.

In a 45-paragraph counter-affidavit, the commission noted that Bello had filed a similar application before the Federal High Court in Abuja, which is still pending.

According to the EFCC, seeking the same relief in two different courts could lead to conflicting rulings and would undermine judicial integrity. The Commission further argued that the FCT High Court could not grant the application, as it does not have the passport in question.

“The passport sought to be released is not before this court,” the EFCC stated, insisting that the document was deposited with the Federal High Court before Justice Emeka Nwite, where Bello is also standing trial for alleged fraud involving N80.2bn.

In her ruling, Justice Maryanne Anenih confirmed that the passport is indeed not in the FCT High Court’s custody.

She explained that although the court had initially ordered Bello to deposit his travel documents with its registry, subsequent enquiries showed that the passport had been submitted to the Federal High Court.

“The simple logic is that the passport cannot be in the custody of two different courts at the same time,” she said.

“Since the defendant has admitted depositing it with the Federal High Court, there is no reason for this court to make any order in that regard,” she added.

Anineh held that the court would not issue an order that would serve no purpose.

“Courts do not make orders in vain. Therefore, this court will not make an order that would have no effect,” Justice Anenih ruled.

Bello had also acknowledged in his application that the passport is with the Federal High Court. His counsel, Daudu, likewise admitted during the proceedings that the document is not with the FCT High Court.

Following the ruling, Justice Anenih adjourned further proceedings to October 8, 9, and November 13, 2025.

Bello is currently facing two separate trials over alleged misappropriation of public funds, N110.4bn before the FCT High Court and N80.2bn before the Federal High Court.

Yahaya Bello’s UK Medical Trip Stalls Again is first published on The Whistler Newspaper