The Federal High Court in Abuja has set July 21, 2025, as the date to rule on an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who is seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Bello, who is currently facing a 19-count charge of money laundering, filed the application on June 20. He is asking the court to release his international passport, seized as part of his bail terms, so he can travel to the United Kingdom for treatment, citing a referral from a cardiologist.
Represented by his legal team led by former NBA President, Prof. Joseph Daudu (SAN), Bello urged the court to grant his request on humanitarian grounds.
Daudu told the court that his client never traveled abroad during his eight-year tenure as governor and promised to return within the court’s vacation period.
“My lord, this is a harmless and non-political issue that borders on the health of the defendant who is ready and willing to face his trial,” Daudu submitted.
“He has never been late to court. The little misunderstanding that happened before this trial began was politically motivated. If permitted to travel, he will return before the end of August and the court can also set a date.
“This is a criminal trial, not a political witch-hunt,” he added.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) strongly opposed the application.
The agency argued that allowing Bello to leave the country would be an abuse of court process.
EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), contended that Bello’s alleged medical conditions, hypertension and hypercalcemia, were not life-threatening, and that no sufficient evidence was presented to justify seeking treatment abroad.
He further pointed out that Nigeria has adequately equipped medical facilities capable of handling such cases.
Pinheiro also cited Bello’s own claims that he built “ultra-modern hospitals with state-of-the-art facilities” in Kogi State to curb medical tourism.
“This defendant insisted that the hospitals were built to curb medical tourism,” he noted, while also criticizing the medical report provided, saying it failed to disclose the qualification of the signing doctor.
EFCC also raised concerns about the potential for flight, pointing out that Bello was already on Interpol’s red notice list.
“This defendant is already on the red notice. The EFCC sent a letter to the Interpol when he was playing games with the prosecution and he was placed on the red list.
“He doesn’t know what is awaiting him there. He can be Hushpuppied to the US or UAE. That is a risk because it will affect this trial,” Pinheiro warned.
In addition, EFCC informed the court that Bello’s sureties were not notified about his request to travel.
The agency also alleged that he had filed a similar application at a different Abuja court where he faces a separate charge.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Emeka Nwite postponed ruling on the application to July 21.
During Friday’s proceedings, a brief scene unfolded in court when the fourth prosecution witness, Mr. Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a Compliance Officer from Zenith Bank, addressed a concern about alleged harassment.
Pinheiro had earlier informed the court that one of Bello’s security aides had confronted the witness, describing it as an attempt to interfere with the case.
“My lord, the witness told me that this is not the first time. A situation where a witness is harassed in a criminal case amounts to interference,” the EFCC counsel claimed.
In response, Bello’s lawyer Daudu promised to investigate the matter and report back to the court.
However, before the adjournment, the witness sought permission to clarify the situation.
“My lord, I want to put it on record that no one harassed or intimidated me. I only had a minor altercation with someone which had nothing to do with the defendant,” Bata explained.
During cross-examination, Bata also testified that Bello’s name did not appear as a beneficiary in the Kogi State account transactions under investigation.
Justice Nwite then adjourned the matter until July 3 and 4 for continued cross-examination.
Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, is on trial for alleged involvement in an N80.2 billion fraud.
EFCC claims he used five proxies to purchase 13 luxury properties in Abuja and Dubai, allegedly funded with criminal proceeds.
Additionally, the agency accuses him of attempting to hide over N3 billion by handing it to associates, and transferring over $700,000 to a personal account in the United States, actions said to contravene the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.
Bello has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently out on bail pending the outcome of the trial.
