A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s application to retrieve his international passport for overseas medical treatment, citing deficiencies in the medical documentation supporting his request.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Monday during proceedings in the money laundering case filed against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, determining that the medical report submitted lacked proper authentication.
The former governor, represented by senior counsel Joseph Daudu, had sought temporary release of his travel document to seek medical care in the United Kingdom, citing a documented 15-year battle with hypertension. Daudu presented two exhibits to support the application, arguing they provided adequate medical justification for the court to grant favorable consideration.
However, Justice Nwite found critical flaws in the medical evidence presented. “Exhibit B, which is the medical report provided by a doctor, was not signed by its maker, and as such, lacked any legal efficacy,” the judge stated, explaining that unsigned medical documentation could not serve as reliable evidence before the court.
The prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, had vigorously opposed the motion, characterizing it as an abuse of court process. Pinheiro argued that similar applications had already been made before the FCT High Court and criticized the current motion as procedurally flawed since Bello’s sureties were not properly notified.
Justice Nwite rejected the abuse of process argument, clarifying the relationship between the two courts handling Bello’s cases. The judge noted that both the Federal High Court and FCT High Court granted Bello bail in December 2024, with the FCT court requiring him to seek judicial permission before traveling.
“This court and the FCT High Court are courts of coordinate jurisdiction,” Justice Nwite explained, dismissing suggestions that the application represented procedural misconduct.
Despite ruling against the prosecution’s procedural objections, the judge ultimately denied Bello’s passport request due to insufficient medical evidence. “The defendant has failed to place sufficient material before this court for his passport to be released for him to travel,” Justice Nwite concluded.
The court has scheduled the continuation of Bello’s money laundering trial for multiple dates in October and November, including October 7, October 10, November 10, and November 11, ensuring the case proceeds despite the passport application outcome.
