Court Again Denies Yahaya Bello Overseas Medical Trip

Abuja, Nigeria – For the second time, the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has rejected an application by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello to release his passport for an overseas medical trip. Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling delivered on Monday, July 21, 2025, stated that Bello failed to provide sufficient evidence that his medical condition could not be treated in Nigeria.

Bello is currently facing a 19-count charge of money laundering, alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, involving an alleged sum of N80.2 billion. The charges were brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Nwite’s decision was based on several key points. He noted that the medical report from Confluence University of Science and Technology, Okene, did not clearly state the competence of the diagnosing doctor. Furthermore, a letter of invitation from a UK medical consultant was unsigned, rendering it “worthless in the eyes of the law.” The judge also questioned why Bello sought to travel abroad for hypertension treatment without evidence of a significant deterioration of his condition that local facilities couldn’t manage.

During the June 27, 2025, hearing, Bello’s counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, had urged the court to temporarily release his client’s passport, arguing that Bello had no criminal record overseas and posed no flight risk. Daudu had supported the application with a 22-paragraph affidavit, including the aforementioned medical report and UK invitation.

However, prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, vehemently opposed the application, labeling it an abuse of court process. Pinheiro highlighted that similar applications had been filed previously at the FCT High Court. He also raised concerns about the sureties’ liability if Bello failed to return, especially given the international nature of the alleged money laundering charges, which reportedly involved properties in Dubai and bank accounts in the US and UK.

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Pinheiro further discredited the submitted medical report, pointing out that the signing doctor’s specialization was not indicated. He maintained that Bello’s health concerns, described as low potassium and mild hypertension, could be managed within Nigeria. The prosecution counsel also sarcastically suggested Bello visit the “ultra-modern hospital” he boasted of building in Kogi State during his tenure, emphasizing its proximity to Abuja.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite meticulously explained his reasons for the denial. He emphasized that the medical report from Confluence University of Science and Technology was inadequate, as it did not name the consultant who examined Bello, nor did it ascertain their qualifications. He further stressed that an unsigned document, like the UK invitation letter, holds no legal efficacy.

“There is nothing placed before this court that shows in a clear terms that a Nigerian medical facility cannot appropriately handle the ill health of a defendant applicant,” Justice Nwite stated. He concluded that Bello had “failed to place sufficient criteria” before the court to warrant the release of his international passport for overseas medical treatment.