The Federal High Court in Abuja has officially denied former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello’s application to retrieve his passport for an overseas medical trip.
Bello, who is currently facing multiple corruption charges, had appealed to the court for permission to travel to the United Kingdom for urgent medical treatment. However, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled on Monday that the request lacked substantial evidence of the medical emergency and raised serious concerns about flight risk.
The court emphasized that given the severity of the allegations against Bello, allowing him to travel outside the country could jeopardize the ongoing legal proceedings.
Yahaya Bello is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as Kogi State governor. The EFCC has accused him of misappropriating billions of naira in public funds.
Court’s Position:
Justice Nwite stated that granting Bello’s request would send the wrong signal about the justice system’s integrity, especially in high-profile corruption cases.
Bello’s legal team has indicated plans to file an appeal. Meanwhile, the former governor will remain in Nigeria to continue facing trial.