Court Rejects Yahaya Bello’s Travel Request, Says It Doesn’t Have His Passport
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Thursday clarified that it does not have custody of the international passport belonging to Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, effectively halting his request to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The clarification followed a formal application filed by Bello seeking the temporary release of his passport to enable him to seek medical attention outside the country.
During the last hearing, Bello’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), argued the application based on 13 legal grounds, stating that the court had, in a December 2024 ruling, indicated that the defendant could file an application should he wish to travel.
He maintained that the ruling did not expressly restrict Bello from travelling nor set any specific conditions. Daudu further referred to a Certified True Copy of the court’s previous bail ruling, admitted as Exhibit C, and contended that the current request aligned with the court’s earlier decision.
He also argued that Bello had consistently attended court proceedings, posed no flight risk, and had duly informed his sureties of his travel intention.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the application in a 45-paragraph counter-affidavit, describing it as an abuse of court process.
According to the EFCC, Bello had made a similar request before the Federal High Court, which is still pending. The Commission warned that filing identical applications in two different courts could lead to conflicting rulings and undermine judicial integrity.
“The passport sought to be released is not before this court,” the EFCC stated, emphasizing that the FCT High Court cannot act on a document not in its possession. The Commission urged the court not to issue any order concerning the passport, which it said is currently held by the Federal High Court.
At the resumed hearing, Justice Maryanne Anenih ruled that while the court would have considered the application for the release of the passport, it had no jurisdiction to do so since the document is not in its custody.
“A review of the court’s record revealed that the applicant had previously been ordered to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court’s registry,” Justice Anenih stated.
“However, upon further enquiry and search conducted by the court, it was discovered that the said international passport is not presently in the custody of the court’s registry but with the Federal High Court.”
She continued, “The defendant even deposed to an affidavit stating that his passport had been deposited with the Federal High Court following a bail granted to him. The simple logic is that the passport cannot be in the custody of two different courts at the same time. Since the defendant has admitted depositing it with the Federal High Court, there is no reason for this court to make any order in that regard.”
“Courts do not make orders in vain. Therefore, this court will not make an order that would have no effect, as the passport in question is not with this court but with the Federal High Court,” she concluded.
Interestingly, Bello had acknowledged in his application that the travel documents were with the Federal High Court, and his counsel, Daudu, had earlier confirmed that the passport being requested was not in the FCT High Court’s possession.
Following the ruling, Justice Anenih adjourned the case to October 8, 9, and November 13, 2025, for continuation of the hearing.
Bello is currently facing trial over the alleged misappropriation of N110.4 billion in Kogi State funds during his tenure. He is also standing trial in a separate fraud case involving N80.2 billion before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
PUNCH
