LIVE UPDATES
A Federal High Court has denied former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello's second request to get back his international passport for a medical trip overseas.
The court noted that the medical report provided by Bello to support his request lacked sufficient evidence to justify the foreign travel.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, on Monday, rejected the application just days after another court had also turned down Bello's request to travel to the United Kingdom for a medical checkup.
“The court cannot rely on an unsigned document,” the judge stated, emphasizing that Exhibit B lacked probative value and could not be used as evidence in court.
Bello, who is facing trial for alleged money laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had sought the temporary release of his travel documents through his legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Joseph Daudu, citing chronic hypertension and submitting two documents, Exhibits A and B, to support his plea for medical treatment abroad.
While the court dismissed the EFCC’s argument that the motion was simply a repetition of earlier applications and an abuse of process, it ruled that the unsigned Exhibit B did not fulfill legal requirements for consideration.
The judge also rejected the EFCC’s assertion that Bello's bail sureties should have been notified, stating, “The prosecution failed to reference any legal provision, whether local or international, that requires such notification or inclusion of sureties.”
Justice Nwite clarified that even though Bello had previously been granted bail by both the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court, the latter imposing travel restrictions, both courts possess equal jurisdiction, and seeking relief from one does not constitute a procedural violation.
Ultimately, the judge determined that the defense had not established adequate grounds to grant the request, concluding, “Consequently, this application is hereby refused.” The trial is scheduled to continue on October 7 and 10, and again on November 10 and 11, 2025.
