The Federal Capital Territory High Court, presided over by Justice Maryanne Anenih, on Thursday clarified that it does not possess the travel passport of the immediate-past Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The court stated that the document is, in fact, held by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Justice Anenih’s declaration came during the resumed hearing of an alleged money laundering case brought against the former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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She explained that her court could not consider Bello’s application for the release of his travel document because it was not within her court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Anenih emphasised that even if the request were approved, it would be ineffective as the passport is currently under the custody of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.
Bello is currently facing similar charges concurrently at both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja.
His legal team sought the release of his passport, citing health grounds as the reason for his need to travel out of the country.
Ironically, while Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, had earlier conceded that the requested passport was not in the FCT High Court’s custody, the former governor’s own application had previously indicated that his travel documents were indeed with the Federal High Court.
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Bello had, at an earlier point in the proceedings, been ordered to deposit his travel passport and other relevant documents with the FCT court registry.
Following her ruling, Justice Anenih adjourned the case to October 8 and 9 and November 13, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing.
