Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, July 21, 2025, rejected the application of a former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, for the release of his passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Yahaya Bello, alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246,470, 088.88( Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).

Justice Nwite rejected Bello’s application on the following grounds that Bello has not put forward sufficient materials before the court to show that local health facilities cannot manage his health condition; that the medical doctor in the Confluence University of Science and Technology that diagnosed him did not state his area of medical competence; that the letter of invitation from the UK medical consultant was not signed and therefore, worthless in the eyes of the law; that Bello wants to leave Nigeria and go to UK to treat hypertension without putting forward any evidence to show that there has been a deterioration of the ailment.

At the June 27, 2025 sitting, Bello had through his counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, urged the court to temporarily release his client's passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

He claimed that the defendant had no criminal record overseas and did not pose a flight risk. “He has no criminal record in those countries. The defendant is not a flight risk and will return before the end of August. My Lord can even specify a return date,” he said.

Daudu informed the court that the application was brought pursuant to Section 173(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction. He backed the application with a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Bello himself, including annexures such as a medical report from the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Okene, Kogi State and a letter of invitation from a UK-based consultant cardiologist.

However, prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, strongly objected to the application, describing it as an abuse of court process. He argued that Bello had previously filed similar applications before the FCT High Court, seeking the same relief, which he said was improper and confusing.

Pinheiro advanced five main reasons why the application should be denied. First, he said the motion was “technically incompetent” as the sureties to Bello’s bail were not informed or included in the application, thereby raising questions about their liability if the defendant fails to return, he noted that the case against Bello involved money laundering, which was international in nature, referencing charges related to the defendant’s alleged properties acquisitions in Dubai and funds in bank accounts in the US and UK. “The defendant is already under a red notice and international alert. He risks being arrested abroad and extradited to the countries where he is linked with crimes.

The prosecution further discredited the medical report submitted by the defence, noting that the doctor who signed it failed to indicate his specialization. He further argued that the health concerns cited by the defendant such as low potassium and mild hypertension, could be managed locally and not sufficient reason to fly all the way to the UK.

He also pointed out the irony that Bello had boasted during his tenure of building an ultra-modern hospital in Kogi State. “From Abuja to Lokoja is two hours. I advise him to visit that hospital rather than take a six-hour flight abroad,” he said.