EFCC Opposes Yahaya Bello’s Bid To Travel Abroad For Medical Treatment Amid ₦80.2bn Fraud Trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has firmly opposed an application by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello to travel abroad for medical treatment. The application was presented before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, during the ongoing trial of Bello on 19 charges of alleged money laundering involving ₦80.2 billion.
Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, urged the court to release his client’s international passport, surrendered as part of his bail conditions, citing urgent medical needs during the court’s vacation period. Daudu argued that Bello, who has not travelled abroad in over eight years, requires treatment for conditions including hypertension and hypercalcemia, supported by a medical report and a letter from a consultant cardiologist. “The defendant is not a flight risk and will return before the end of August,” Daudu stated, adding that Bello has no criminal record abroad.
However, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, described the application as “technically incompetent” and an abuse of court process, noting that a similar request is pending before the FCT High Court. Pinheiro argued that Bello’s sureties were not informed of the application, raising concerns about their liability if he fails to return. He highlighted the international nature of the money laundering charges, which involve properties in Dubai and funds in US and UK bank accounts, warning that Bello risks arrest abroad due to an existing international red notice. “He could be ‘Hushpuppied’ from Dubai,” Pinheiro cautioned, referencing a high-profile extradition case.
Pinheiro also dismissed Bello’s medical claims, asserting that Nigeria has well-equipped hospitals, including those Bello claimed to have built in Kogi State. He questioned the validity of the medical report, noting it lacked details about the signing doctor’s qualifications. The EFCC further argued that granting the request could frustrate the trial, as Bello might not return, given the severity of the charges.
During the proceedings, a prosecution witness, Mshellia Arhyel Bata, a Zenith Bank compliance officer, clarified an earlier EFCC claim that he was harassed by Bello’s security aides. Bata told the court he faced no intimidation, refuting the allegation and earning praise from Bello’s counsel for his honesty. Bata also confirmed that Bello’s name did not appear as a signatory or beneficiary in any transaction documents related to the Kogi State Government House Administration accounts, spanning pages 24 to 413 of Exhibit 22A.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case to 3 and 4 July for continuation of the trial and set 21 July for a ruling on Bello’s travel application. The development has sparked varied reactions on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the EFCC’s opposition, while others support the agency’s stance, citing concerns about Bello potentially evading justice.
As the trial progresses, the outcome of Bello’s application will be closely watched, given its implications for his ongoing legal battles and the EFCC’s efforts to combat high-profile financial crimes in Nigeria.