Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has clarified that the international passport of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is not in the court’s custody but remains with the Federal High Court.
The clarification came on Thursday during the resumed hearing of a 16-count money laundering case filed against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involving alleged property fraud amounting to ₦110 billion.
Ruling on a motion filed by Bello seeking the release of his passport to travel abroad for medical reasons, Justice Anenih said the court could not act on the request since the passport was never submitted to her court.
She explained that even if the court were inclined to grant the application, it would be ineffective as the travel document was not under its control.
“The application is incompetent because the passport is not in the custody of this court,” Anenih ruled, noting that the defendant’s claim that the passport was submitted to the FCT High Court was misleading.
She added that the bail conditions required Bello to deposit his passport with the court or submit an affidavit indicating that the document was held elsewhere.
Bello had, in an affidavit, stated that his passport was with the deputy registrar of the Federal High Court and would be released to him once cleared by that court.
Justice Anenih emphasized that the FCT High Court cannot speculate on whether Bello holds multiple passports, as no such evidence had been provided.
The defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had filed the application on June 20, 2025, seeking the release of Bello’s passport for medical travel.
The application was supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Bello. However, the EFCC filed a counter-affidavit opposing the request.
Despite earlier records indicating that Bello had been ordered to submit his passport to the FCT High Court, a subsequent investigation by the court revealed that it was not in their possession.
Justice Anenih has adjourned the case until October 8, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, Bello is also facing separate charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.