Court fixes date to rule on Yahaya Bello’s request to travel for medical treatment

Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has scheduled July 17, 2025, to deliver a ruling on an application filed by the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

During the resumed hearing, Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), informed the court that an application had been filed, requesting the release of his client’s international passport to enable him to travel for urgent medical attention.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the application, submitting a counter-affidavit arguing that granting Bello’s request could potentially delay the ongoing legal proceedings.

In a swift response, Daudu disclosed that the defense team had filed a 20-paragraph further affidavit on July 7, 2025, which was deposed to by Bello himself. The affidavit also included two supporting exhibits to strengthen the application.

“Exhibit C is the CTC of the ruling of your lordship, admitting the defendant to bail, and Exhibit D is the ruling of the FHC admitting him to bail.

“We adopt these documents in urging your lordship to grant our application,” he stated.

Responding to the prosecution’s argument that the application was an abuse of court process in the sense that a similar application was filed at the FHC.

He argued that it could not be an abuse of the court process. He hinged his argument on the fact that it was the complainant who instituted those charges in the separate courts.

Daudu submitted that it would be a futile exercise to apply in one court and not to apply in the other court.

While defending the counter-affidavit of the EFCC, the prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebele (SAN), said the defendant should have put his sureties on notice concerning his application to travel out of the country.

According to him, the sureties need to decide whether they would want to continue to stand as sureties for him when he travels.

He added that, by filing the same application at both the FCT High Court and Federal High Court, the defendant’s counsel were setting the courts on a collision course.

Responding, Daudu said the sureties were already aware.

“Finally, on the interpol matter, it is a dead argument. He has never flouted your lordship’s order. They themselves have even forgotten about those red alerts,” the lawyer added, urging the court to grant the application.

After listening to both parties, Justice Anenih adjourned the case to July 17, 2025, for ruling.