Court Dismisses Yahaya Bello’s Application for Passport Release, Declares It Lacks Jurisdiction
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has dismissed an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking the release of his international passport. Justice Maryanne Anenih ruled that the court could not entertain the request as the document is not in its custody.
The application was made in connection with an ongoing 16-count charge brought against Bello, Umar Oricha, and Abdulsalami Hudu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which involves the alleged misappropriation of ₦110 billion in public funds.
During Thursday’s hearing, Justice Anenih clarified that the passport is held by the Federal High Court, not the FCT High Court, and therefore the application was both misdirected and incompetent.
“The passport cannot be in two places at the same time,” the judge remarked, noting that Bello himself admitted in an affidavit that the travel document is with the deputy registrar of the Federal High Court. She added that the FCT court has no basis to speculate whether the defendant possesses more than one passport, as such evidence was not presented.
According to bail conditions earlier issued, Bello was required to either deposit his passport with the FCT court or formally declare it was held elsewhere specifically with the Federal High Court. The conditions further state that the passport must be surrendered to the FCT court once released by the Federal High Court.
The court has adjourned the matter to October 8 for continuation of trial. Meanwhile, Bello is also facing a related money laundering charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the passport in question is being held.
His legal counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued that the travel document was needed for urgent medical travel, but the EFCC opposed the request, calling for its dismissal. The court sided with the EFCC, emphasizing the limits of its jurisdiction.
