The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has stated that the international passport of immediate past Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is not in its custody, but rather with the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumed hearing of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) money laundering case against the former governor on Thursday, Justice Maryann Anenih ruled that her court could not consider Bello’s application for the release of his travel document because it was not in their possession.
The judge explained that even if the request were granted, it would be ineffective as the passport is currently held by the Federal High Court, specifically under Justice Emeka Nwite.
Bello is facing similar money laundering charges in both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He had filed an application seeking the release of his international passport to allow him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel for the defendant, had acknowledged that the passport was not with the FCT High Court.
Justice Anenih noted that while court records showed Bello was previously ordered to deposit his passport with the FCT High Court registry, a search revealed it was now with the Federal High Court.
She further highlighted that Bello himself had stated in an affidavit that his passport was deposited with the Federal High Court in connection with an earlier bail condition.
“The simple logic is that the passport cannot be with two different courts at the same time,” Justice Anenih stated, concluding that her court would not issue a futile order since the passport was not in its possession.
The defendant’s application itself had also indicated that his travel documents were with the Federal High Court.
After the ruling, Justice Anenih adjourned the case to October 8, 9, and November 13, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing. The court had previously adjourned its ruling on Bello’s application to Thursday, July 17.
Daudu had informed the court that the application, dated and filed on June 19 and 20, 2025, sought the passport’s release for medical attention, supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit from Bello himself.
EFCC counsels had filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that granting the request could delay further proceedings.
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