By Peter Omopo
Abuja, June 27, 2025 — Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on Friday asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to release his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for a medical check-up.
Bello, who is currently facing trial over alleged money laundering involving ₦80.2 billion, filed the request through his lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), during the resumed court proceedings.
Daudu argued that the application was in line with Bello’s bail conditions, which require court approval for international travel. “He has pressing medical needs to attend to during the court’s vacation period. After eight years without travel, he must address urgent health issues,” Daudu told the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however, opposed the application. Prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) submitted a counter-affidavit, describing the application as “technically incompetent” and noting that a similar request was already filed before an FCT High Court.
Pinheiro maintained that the new request amounted to an abuse of court process, a claim Daudu dismissed, saying it was the prosecution that was guilty of duplicating processes. He informed the court that his team had filed a further affidavit addressing the EFCC’s objections and submitted two supporting exhibits.
Meanwhile, a separate drama unfolded in court over allegations of witness intimidation. The EFCC had claimed that one of its witnesses, a Zenith Bank compliance officer, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, was harassed by Bello’s security aides.
However, Bata denied the claim during the proceedings, clarifying that no such incident occurred.
“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,” Bata told the court.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter and directed the defence team to investigate the harassment claim, despite the witness’s clarification.
The case continues.
