By Nwosa Hamilton
The Federal High Court, Abuja, has rejected a travel request from the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the ongoing lawsuit bordering on alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, turned down the request on the grounds that the medical report attached to Bello’s application was not signed by its maker.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite also held that contrary to the submission of the prosecution team, the application was not an abuse of the court process.
The defendant had applied for the release of his travel document to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention.
The judge said counsel to the defendant argued that the applicant had been a known hypertensive patient for about 15 years.
Nwite ruled: “The counsel to the complainant did not cite any section of the law that says sureties should be given notice or made a party in the motion on notice.
“The counsel did not cite any law, whether locally or internationally, to back his argument.
“On the abuse of process of court, the complainant argues that the instant application is incompetent and amounts to abuse of the court process.
“It is not in dispute that the applicant is standing trial before this court and FCT court, and it is not in dispute that the applicant was granted bail in this court on December 13, 2024, and at FCT High Court on December 19, 2024.
“The FCT High Court, in its ruling, said that the applicant must seek the leave of the court. Hence, this instant application does not amount to abuse of the court process.”
Justice Nwite also stated that “It is also the fact that this court and the FCT High Court are courts of coordinate jurisdiction.”
The court, however, held that Exhibit B, which was the medical report provided by a doctor, was not signed by its maker, and as such, lacked any legal efficacy.
The Court emphasised that an unsigned document carries no weight in law and is considered worthless.
“In other words, Exhibit B is devoid of probative value and cannot be relied upon by the Court,” the judge held.
“The defendant has failed to place sufficient material before this court for his passport to be released for him to travel. Consequently, this application is hereby refused,” Justice Nwite said.
The case was, thereafter, adjourned to October 7 and 10 and November 10 and 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.
The New Diplomat reports that Bello is facing 19 counts of money laundering involving N80.2 billion.
In another lawsuit, Bello, alongside co-defendants Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly laundering N110.4 billion during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.
The charges include accusations of diverting public funds for personal use, with Bello and his associates allegedly using the funds to purchase properties in Lagos and Abuja and transferring significant sums abroad, including $570,330 to a TD Bank account in the United States.
