Court to rule on Yahaya Bello’s request for medical travel on July 17
Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has fixed July 17, 2025, to rule on an application by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
During Tuesday’s proceedings in the ongoing money laundering case brought against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), informed the court that the motion, dated June 19 and filed on June 20, seeks the release of the former governor’s international passport to enable him to access medical care overseas.
The motion, supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit sworn to by Bello, is based on 13 grounds. The EFCC opposed the application, filing a counter-affidavit on the grounds that granting the request could delay trial proceedings.
In response, Daudu submitted a 20-paragraph further affidavit, also deposed to by Bello, with two exhibits, including certified true copies of previous rulings by both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court that granted him bail.
Daudu argued that filing similar applications in both courts was not an abuse of process since the EFCC had initiated parallel charges in the two jurisdictions. “It would be a futile exercise to apply in one court and not in the other,” he stated.
However, EFCC counsel Chukwudi Enebele (SAN) contended that Bello’s sureties should have been notified about the application, as they must decide whether to continue serving as sureties during his time abroad. He further warned that granting the request in one court while another rejects it could ridicule the judicial system.
Daudu countered that the sureties were already informed and that the argument about Interpol’s involvement was no longer relevant, since Bello had submitted himself to court proceedings and had not violated any bail conditions.
Justice Anenih, after hearing both sides, adjourned the matter to July 17 for ruling.
