By Charles Pemu 
Abuja — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday refused a request by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, for the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.
Delivering the ruling at the resumed hearing of the ₦80.2 billion money laundering case brought against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Emeka Nwite held that the medical report submitted to support the request lacked credibility, as it was not signed by the doctor who purportedly issued it.
Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, had asked the court to release the former governor’s travel documents, citing his long-standing battle with hypertension. He argued that the exhibits attached to the application—particularly Exhibits A and B contained expert medical opinion confirming the need for overseas treatment in the United Kingdom.
However, the prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the motion, describing it as an abuse of court process. He noted that a similar request had already been filed before the FCT High Court, and contended that the application before Justice Nwite’s court was “technically incompetent” since the defendant’s sureties were not notified or included.
Justice Nwite dismissed this argument, ruling that there was no legal obligation to involve sureties in such an application.
The counsel to the complainant did not cite any law, locally or internationally, that says sureties should be given notice or made a party in a motion on notice,” the judge said.
While acknowledging that both his court and the FCT High Court are courts of coordinate jurisdiction, Justice Nwite ruled that the current application did not amount to an abuse of process. Nonetheless, he found the unsigned medical document inadmissible and of no probative value.
“Exhibit B, being unsigned, is devoid of legal weight and is considered worthless. The defendant has failed to place sufficient material before this court to justify the release of his passport,” the judge declared.
Consequently, the court dismissed the application and adjourned the matter to October 7, October 10, November 10, and November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.