Alex Enumahin Abuja

Justice Maryann Anenih of the Abuja High Court will on July 17 decide whether former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, can go abroad for medical attention.

Anenih fixed the above date for ruling on Tuesday, after lawyers representing the former governor and the prosecution made their submissions for and against the grant of Bello’s application for permission to travel abroad in order to attend to some health issues.

Bello is standing trial in an alleged money laundering case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and had since been admitted to bail.

When the matter came up on Tuesday, his lead lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, drew the court’s attention to an application filed on June 20, 2025, seeking an order for the release of the 1st defendant/applicant’s international passport by the Registrar of the court to enable him travel for medical attention.

But counsel for EFCC, ChukwudiEnebeli, SAN, objected to the grant of the application on grounds that it could delay further proceedings.

He added that the application was an abuse of court process since a similar one had already been filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the former governor was also standing trial.

Responding, Daudu pointed out that the defendant was already enjoying bail from the two courts, and added that it was the complainant that instituted the two separate charges in the separate courts.

“It will be a futile exercise to apply in one court and not to apply in the other court,” Daudu submitted.

After listening to both parties, Anenih adjourned the case to July 17, 2025 for ruling.

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