The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has rejected an application by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The court’s decision, delivered on Thursday, hinged on the fact that Bello’s international passport is not in its custody.
Justice Maryanne Anenih, the presiding judge, ruled that the FCT High Court could not grant the application for the release of a document it did not possess.
She clarified that Bello’s passport was deposited with the Federal High Court as part of his bail conditions in a separate, ongoing case.
Bello, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of alleged N110.4 billion fraud, had sought the temporary release of his passport to enable him to attend a scheduled medical appointment in the United Kingdom.
His legal team argued that the request was in line with earlier bail conditions, which stipulated he could seek court permission for foreign travel.
However, the EFCC opposed the application, arguing it was an abuse of court process, as a similar request had been filed before the Federal High Court.
The prosecution also raised concerns that allowing Bello to leave the country could jeopardize the trial, citing the international dimension of the money laundering charges.
Justice Anenih emphasized that a passport cannot be in the custody of two different courts simultaneously.
She stated that since Bello himself had deposed in an affidavit that his passport was with the Federal High Court, the FCT High Court could not make an order that would have no effect.
