A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the medical report submitted in support of the application was not signed by any doctor, rendering it “worthless” in the eyes of the law.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Yahaya Bello on a 19-count charge of alleged N80.2billion money laundering.
Moving the application dated June 20, Bello’s lead lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), told the court that the former governor was referred abroad by a cardiologist for urgent care, and he had never travelled during his eight years in office.
Daudu tendered medical exhibits “A” and “B” and assured the court that his client would return after the court vacation to continue with the trial.
But the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), opposed the application, describing it as a ploy to evade justice. Pinheiro argued that the ailments cited — hypertension and hypercalcemia — are not life-threatening and can be treated in Nigeria.
He also noted that Bello had filed a similar application at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, where he faces separate criminal proceedings, branding the move an abuse of court process.
But Justice Nwite refused the EFCC’s claim of abuse of court process, saying that both the FHC and FCT High Court are courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
The judge said the motion was rightly brought before the court as directed by the FCT court, which earlier granted Bello bail on December 19, 2024.
The Federal High Court had also granted him bail on December 13, 2024. Addressing the EFCC’s concern that Bello’s sureties were not included in the application, the judge held that there is no law — local or international — mandating that sureties be notified or joined in such motions.
Nevertheless, Justice Nwite struck out the application, faulting the credibility of the medical documentation presented.
The judge said, “An unsigned medical report carries no weight in law. The defendant has failed to place sufficient material before this court for the release of his passport.”
Justice Nwite consequently dismissed the application and adjourned further proceedings to October 7, 10 and November 10, 11, 2025 for continuation of trial.
