FCT High Court Denies Yahaya Bello’s Request For Passport Release.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has rejected an application by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for the temporary release of his international passport to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. Justice Maryanne Anenih, delivering the ruling on 17 July 2025, clarified that the court could not grant the request as Bello’s passport is not in its custody but held by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Bello, who faces a 16-count charge of money laundering and criminal breach of trust amounting to N110.4 billion, filed the application on 20 June 2025, seeking to access his travel documents for urgent medical care abroad. His lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued that the request was supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit and aligned with a December 2024 ruling, which permitted Bello to apply for travel if needed. Daudu emphasised that Bello had complied with all bail conditions, including attending court proceedings, and posed no flight risk.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), prosecuting Bello alongside co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, opposed the application. The EFCC’s counsel, Chukwudi Enebele (SAN), argued that granting the request could delay the trial and risk conflicting rulings, as Bello had made a similar application before the Federal High Court, where his passport was deposited as part of bail conditions in a separate N80.2 billion fraud case. The EFCC stressed that the FCT High Court lacked jurisdiction to order the release of a document held by another court.
Justice Anenih, in her ruling, noted that court records and Bello’s own affidavit confirmed the passport was with the Federal High Court, under Justice Emeka Nwite. “The simple logic is that the passport cannot be in two places at once,” she stated, adding that courts do not issue orders in vain. She further clarified that the FCT High Court could not speculate on whether Bello held multiple passports, as no evidence was presented to suggest this. The application was deemed incompetent and struck out, as the court lacked authority to act on a document not in its possession.
The judge adjourned the case to 8, 9 October, and 13 November 2025 for further hearings. Bello’s legal team acknowledged the passport’s location but maintained the application was filed in good faith, citing the former governor’s health needs. Meanwhile, Bello remains under scrutiny in two parallel trials, with the Federal High Court set to rule on his similar travel request on 21 July 2025.
The ruling has sparked varied reactions. Some observers see it as a procedural necessity to avoid judicial conflict, while others speculate on social media about Bello’s intentions, with posts on X questioning why he did not seek treatment in Nigeria, given his tenure as governor. The case underscores the complexities of managing high-profile legal battles, with the EFCC resolute in ensuring accountability for alleged financial misconduct during Bello’s time in office.
