Court to Rule July 17 on Yahaya Bello’s Request to Travel Abroad Amid Money Laundering Trial.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has scheduled July 17, 2025, to rule on a motion filed by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Presiding over the case, Justice Maryann Anenih heard arguments on Monday from Bello’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu.

The defense asked the court to release Bello’s international passport currently in court custody to allow him to seek urgent medical care outside Nigeria.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Bello for alleged money laundering, filed a counter-affidavit opposing the request. The EFCC argued that allowing the former governor to travel could delay the ongoing trial.

In response, Daudu submitted a further affidavit dated July 7, 2025, deposed to by Bello himself. The filing included two exhibits court rulings granting Bello bail from both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court (FHC).

Daudu maintained that filing the application in both courts was necessary, since the EFCC had brought separate charges in different jurisdictions. He rejected the prosecution’s argument that the move constituted an abuse of court process.

EFCC counsel Chukwudi Enebele (SAN) countered that Bello’s sureties were not notified of the travel request and emphasized their right to decide whether to continue standing as sureties in such circumstances. He also warned that filing duplicate motions in separate courts could place both courts in conflict.

Daudu, however, insisted that the sureties were fully aware of the application and dismissed the EFCC’s reference to Interpol alerts as irrelevant.

After hearing both sides, Justice Anenih adjourned the matter, stating that the court would deliver its ruling on July 17, 2025.