The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Monday once again denied former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello permission to retrieve his passport for a medical trip to the United Kingdom.
Justice Emeka Nwite rejected Bello’s application, citing insufficient evidence to justify overseas treatment for his reported ailments.
Bello is currently facing a 19-count money laundering charge, alongside his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu.
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The charges, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involve an alleged sum of N80,246,470,088.88.
Justice Nwite’s ruling highlighted several deficiencies in Bello’s application.
The judge noted that the defence failed to demonstrate that local health facilities could not manage his condition.
Furthermore, the medical doctor from Confluence University of Science and Technology who diagnosed Bello did not specify his area of medical competence, and the letter of invitation from the UK medical consultant lacked a signature, rendering it invalid in the eyes of the law.
The court also observed that Bello sought to travel to the UK for hypertension treatment without providing evidence of a deterioration in his condition.
During a previous sitting on June 27, 2025, Bello’s counsel, J.B. Daudu, had urged the court to temporarily release his client’s passport for the UK medical journey.
Daudu argued that Bello posed no flight risk, citing his lack of a criminal record abroad and his assurance to return before the end of August.
The application was filed under Section 173(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the court’s inherent jurisdiction, supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit from Bello himself, alongside a medical report from Confluence University and an unsigned invitation from a UK-based cardiologist.
However, prosecuting counsel Kemi Pinheiro vehemently opposed the application, labelling it an abuse of court process.
Pinheiro contended that Bello had previously filed similar applications before the FCT High Court, which he described as improper.
Pinheiro presented five primary reasons for denying the request.
He argued the motion was “technically incompetent” because the sureties for Bello’s bail were not informed or included in the application, raising questions about their liability should Bello fail to return.
He also emphasised the international nature of the money laundering charges, pointing to allegations of property acquisitions in Dubai and funds in bank accounts in the US and UK.
Pinheiro added that Bello is already subject to a “red notice and international alert,” risking arrest and extradition if he travels abroad.
The prosecution further discredited the submitted medical report, noting the absence of the signing doctor’s specialisation.
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Pinheiro also argued that the health concerns cited by Bello, such as low potassium and mild hypertension, could be managed within Nigeria and did not warrant a trip to the UK.
He sarcastically suggested that Bello utilise the “ultra-modern hospital” he reportedly built in Kogi State during his tenure, stating, “From Abuja to Lokoja is two hours. I advise him to visit that hospital rather than take a six-hour flight abroad.”
