“Your Passport Not in Our Custody” — FCT Court Denies Yahaya Bello’s Medical Travel Request Amid N110.4bn Fraud Trial

In a striking courtroom development today, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja declined the request of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for the release of his international passport, which he claims he needs to enable his travel abroad for urgent medical treatment. The court made it clear: “Your passport is not in our custody.”

This verdict puts a new twist in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the embattled politician, who is facing a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges, amounting to a staggering ₦110.4 billion, stem from alleged money laundering and misappropriation of funds during his time as governor.

Justice Maryanne Anenih, who presided over the case, ruled that the application lacked merit because the passport is not with her court, but rather in the custody of the Federal High Court, where Yahaya Bello is concurrently being prosecuted on related charges.

The decision came after Bello’s legal team filed a 22-paragraph affidavit arguing for the temporary release of the passport on humanitarian grounds, citing the need for urgent medical intervention abroad. But EFCC lawyers firmly opposed the request, calling it an abuse of court process and expressing concern that it could jeopardize the integrity of the trial if Bello is allowed to leave the country.

In her ruling, Justice Anenih stressed the importance of jurisdictional boundaries, explaining that the FCT High Court cannot grant an order to release a document it does not possess. She advised Bello’s lawyers to direct their application to the appropriate court — in this case, the Federal High Court under Justice Emeka Nwite, where the passport is currently held as part of bail conditions.

The court adjourned further hearings on the matter to October 8, 9, and November 13, 2025, even as the EFCC continues its probe and prosecution. Yahaya Bello, whose legal woes have kept him in national headlines for months, remains without a passport, and possibly, without the medical care he claims to urgently require.

The case continues to generate debate across Nigeria. While some Nigerians question the ethics and motivations of the EFCC’s crackdown, others argue that the law must take its course — especially given the scale of the alleged theft. For now, Yahaya Bello must stay in the country and face the storm, as the court makes it clear: “Justice cannot be compromised.”

Stay with Busterblog.com for real-time updates on this case and other major legal stories shaping the nation.