From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, opposed an application filed by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, seeking leave of court to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The commission in a statement said the application was presented before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, during the resumed hearing of Bello’s alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial.
According to the EFCC, Bello’s counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), urged the court to consider the defendant’s health condition as paramount and to grant him permission to travel.
“Daudu informed the court that the application was brought pursuant to Section 173(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
“He said the application was backed by a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the defendant himself, including annexures such as a medical report and a letter from a consultant cardiologist,” the statement read.
It further stressed that Bello’s lawyer argued that his client had not travelled outside Nigeria in over eight years and now required urgent medical attention which, according to him, cannot be provided even in the hospital he built.
“The subject of this application is the release of his passport, which was surrendered as part of his bail conditions.
“What should be considered is not whether there are alternatives in Nigeria, but also whether the defendant poses a flight risk,” Daudu was quoted to have said.
The commission added that the prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), strongly objected to the application, describing it as an abuse of court process, arguing that Bello had previously filed similar applications before another court, the current court and the FCT High Court, seeking the same relief, which he said was improper and confusing.
“Following all submissions, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to July 3 and 4, 2025, for continuation of trial and fixed July 21, 2025, for ruling on the defendant’s application to travel abroad,” the statement read in part.