An image of the former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello.

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to release his international passport so he can travel abroad for medical treatment.

Bello is standing trial over alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At the resumed hearing on Friday, Bello’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), made the application. He told the court, “My Lord, the substance of this application is the release of my client’s international passport in accordance with the bail conditions, which require court approval for travel. He has pressing medical needs to attend to during the court’s vacation period. After eight years without travelling, he needs to address specific aspects of his health.”

However, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), opposed the request, saying a similar application is already before the FCT High Court. He described Bello’s application as “an abuse of court process.”

Daudu disagreed, accusing the EFCC of the same offence. He said they had responded to the EFCC’s counter-affidavit with additional documents, including two exhibits.

Meanwhile, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, the EFCC’s fourth witness and a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, denied claims that he was harassed by Bello’s security aides.

“My Lord, I wish to clarify the matter raised earlier before the commencement of proceedings. I was not harassed by any of the security details attached to the defendant. I was not harassed at all, and I felt the need to clarify this, my lord,” Bata told the court.

Daudu also pointed out that the EFCC had published misleading reports about the court proceedings on its website. Pinheiro promised to inform the commission about the defence’s concerns.

During cross-examination, Bata confirmed that Bello was neither a signatory nor a beneficiary in any of the accounts linked to the case. He said, “From the documents presented, there is no mention of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, as a signatory or beneficiary in any transaction.”

The court had earlier admitted account statements from the Kogi State Government House Administration during Bello’s tenure. These were tendered by the witness along with certificates of identification, as required by law.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to July 3 and 4 for continuation of trial. He fixed July 21 to rule on the passport application.