Your passport held elsewhere, not in our custody, Court declines Yahaya Bello’s travel request

A high court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, has rejected the application of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical attention.

At Thursday’s hearing, Justice Maryann Anenih ruled that the application could not be considered since the international passport, which would enable the trip, was not in the custody of her court.

Bello, through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had filed the motion dated June 20, seeking release of his travel documents to enable him seek treatment overseas.

The request was argued at a previous sitting on July 8.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Bello for alleged corruption, strongly opposed the motion, filing a counter-affidavit.

The EFCC described the request as an “abuse of court process,” noting that a similar application was already pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The anti-graft agency also argued that granting Bello’s request could obstruct the progress of the ongoing trial.

In his defense, Daudu argued that the application before the FCT high court was separate from the one at the federal high court, insisting that the two sets of charges were distinct and unrelated.

In her ruling, Justice Anenih maintained that since Bello’s passport was not with her court, granting the application would serve no purpose.

“The court cannot act on a request for the release of a document that is not in its custody,” she held, clarifying that the passport was currently before the federal high court.

Following the decision, the matter was adjourned to October 8 and 9, and November 13, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

Daily Watch Nigeria report that Bello is standing trial on a 16-count charge involving alleged criminal breach of trust amounting to N110.4 billion.

The alleged offences are in violation of sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and are punishable under section 312 of the same law.

Also listed as co-defendants in the case are two former Kogi State officials, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha, who served under Bello’s administration.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly used state funds to acquire luxurious properties in Abuja and Dubai.

In a separate case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Bello is also facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering of N80.2 billion.

He has filed a similar application in that matter, seeking permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical care.

The former governor has continued to deny all charges, calling them “politically motivated.”