Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello in court
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has clarified that the international passport of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is not in its custody but is held by the Federal High Court.
This statement was made by Justice Maryanne Anenih on Thursday during the ongoing hearing of an alleged N110 billion money laundering case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Bello, Umar Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu.
Justice Anenih addressed Bello’s application for the release of his passport, noting that the court could not grant the request as the document was not in its possession. “Even if the application were granted, it would be ineffective since the passport is not with this court,” she stated. The judge further explained that Bello’s bail conditions required him to submit his passport or an affidavit confirming its location if held by another court. Bello had sworn in an affidavit that his passport was with the deputy registrar of the Federal High Court, where he faces a separate charge, and pledged to present it once released.
“The international passport cannot be in two places at once, and this court will not speculate on whether the defendant possesses multiple passports, as no such evidence was presented,” Anenih remarked, dismissing Bello’s application as misleading and incompetent.
The court’s records confirmed that Bello was previously ordered to deposit his travel documents with the FCT High Court’s registry, but a search revealed they were not there. Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had argued that the application, filed on June 20, 2025, sought the release of the passport for medical travel abroad. The application was supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed by Bello. However, the EFCC’s counsel opposed the request, urging the court to deny it.
The trio of Bello, Oricha, and Hudu were arraigned on November 27, 2024, on a 16-count charge related to alleged property fraud worth N110 billion. Bello is also facing a similar charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The FCT High Court had adjourned the ruling on Bello’s application from July 8 to July 17, 2025. Justice Anenih adjourned the case to October 8, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
(Source: News Agency of Nigeria)
