The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to release his international passport to allow him travel abroad for medical reasons.
Bello, who is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering totaling ₦80.2 billion, made the request during a resumed hearing on Friday. His lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), told the court that the former governor needs urgent medical attention during the court’s vacation period and had not travelled in eight years.
“My Lord, the substance of this application is the release of my client’s international passport in accordance with the bail conditions. He has pressing medical needs that require travel,” Daudu stated, while submitting a further affidavit supported by two exhibits in response to a counter-affidavit from the EFCC.
However, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), opposed the application, describing it as an abuse of court process. He argued that a similar request had already been filed at the FCT High Court. Pinheiro also dismissed the defence’s claim of procedural fairness, noting the technical flaws in the application.
The hearing also featured cross-examination of a witness and compliance officer, Bata, who admitted under questioning that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear as a signatory or beneficiary in any of the transactions listed in the submitted account statements—spanning over 400 pages (Exhibit 22A).
He confirmed that the Kogi State Government House accounts were managed by various officials including a Permanent Secretary, Chief Accountant, and other designated signatories. He also revealed that he supervises 13 bank branches in Abuja and surrounding areas.
In a related development, the defence team raised concerns about alleged misrepresentation of court proceedings by the EFCC on its website and reports of witness harassment. Pinheiro responded that he would inform the EFCC of the concerns raised.
Justice Emeka Nwite admitted several statements of accounts from the Kogi State Government House Administration as evidence and marked them as exhibits. He adjourned the trial to July 3 and 4 for continuation and scheduled a ruling on Bello’s passport application for July 21.