A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has scheduled a ruling for July 17 on an application by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, seeking the court’s permission to travel abroad for medical attention.
Justice Maryanne Anenih chose the date on Tuesday after taking arguments for and against the application.
Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with Umar Oricha (Director General, Kogi State Government House) and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge.
The EFCC is, in the charge, alleging criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4billion.
At the commencement of proceedings on Tuesday, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), told the court about his client’s filing on June 20, 2025.
Daudu said, “It seeks an order for the release of the 1st defendant/applicant’s international airport by the Registrar of this court to enable him to travel for medical attention.”
Bello submitted his passport to the court in fulfilment of the conditions attached to the bail granted him by the court.
Prosecuting lawyer, Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN) faulted the application and described it as an abuse of the court’s process.
Enebeli noted that Bello had filed a similar application before a Federal High Court in Abuja, before which he is being prosecuted on a separate charge.
He added that, by filing the same application at both the FCT High Court and Federal High Court, the ex-governor was setting the courts on a collision course.
Enebeli said if the Federal High Court refuses that application and the High Court of the FCT grants it, such a development could make a mockery of the judicial system.
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He argued that the defendant should have notified his sureties about his application to travel out of the country.
According to him, the sureties are required to decide whether they would want to continue to stand as sureties for him when he travels.
Responding, Daudu contended that the decision of his client to file the application cannot amount to an abuse because it was the complainant (the EFCC) that chose to file separate charges against the defendant in different counts.
Daudu added, “It will be a futile exercise to apply in one court and not to apply in the other court.”
He said Bello’s sureties were already aware of the application and needed not to be put on notice
The defence lawyer, while praying the court to grant the application, added: “He (Bello) has never flouted your lordship’s order.”