By Atoyebi Nike
Justice Marianne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has reserved ruling until July 17, 2025, on an application filed by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, who is seeking court approval to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.
Bello is currently facing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge involving alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering totaling ₦110.4 billion. The charges are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During Tuesday’s hearing, J.B. Daudu, SAN, counsel to Bello, moved a motion dated June 19 and filed June 20, requesting that the court grant his client permission to travel abroad for health reasons. He also sought a temporary release of Bello’s international passport to facilitate the trip, promising it would be returned once the defendant is back in the country.
Daudu told the court the motion was supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit personally sworn to by Bello, with two medical reports attached one from the Confluence University of Science and Technology and another addressed to a scheduled appointment with Dr. Amanda Barnabas in the UK.
Relying on court records, Daudu referenced a certified copy of the initial bail ruling that did not prohibit international travel. “We urge the court to adopt the written addresses and affidavits filed in support of this application,” he stated, adding that there was no evidence suggesting that Bello posed a flight risk, as he had consistently attended court proceedings.
He downplayed the EFCC’s concerns that similar applications had been filed in another court, arguing that seeking a second medical opinion was within his client’s legal rights.
Opposing the request, Chukwudi Inibini, SAN, counsel for the EFCC, urged the court to reject the application. He adopted a counter-affidavit sworn to by Abubakar Wara on July 4 and argued that the request amounted to an attempt to modify the court’s existing bail conditions, particularly regarding the surrendered passport.
“The sureties should have been put on notice. They played a role in the initial bail conditions and should confirm if they still wish to stand in if the defendant travels abroad,” Inibini stated.
He further argued that filing similar applications before different courts posed a risk of conflicting rulings, which could be interpreted as an abuse of judicial process. “The appropriate route would have been to retrieve the passport from the previous court before applying here,” he added.
Inibini also questioned the validity of the submitted medical documents, noting that one report lacked proper authentication and was signed on behalf of a consultant without any disclosed professional qualifications.
In a final dig, the prosecution reminded the court that while in office, Bello had commissioned what he described as an “ultra-modern” hospital in Kogi State, one he publicly promoted as among the best in Nigeria.
The court will deliver its ruling on the travel application on July 17, 2025.
