In a twist to the ongoing legal saga of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, the FCT High Court has declared it does not possess his international passport. This revelation came during the resumed hearing of the money laundering case brought by the EFCC.
Justice Maryann Anenih clarified that while the court would have considered Bello’s application for his travel document, it couldn’t, as the passport is with the Federal High Court, specifically with Justice Emeka Nwite.
Bello, who faces similar charges in both the FCT and Federal High Courts, had sought the release of his passport for medical travel abroad. His counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, acknowledged the passport wasn’t with the FCT court, stating that court records showed it had been deposited with the Federal High Court as part of an earlier bail condition.
Justice Anenih emphasized that a passport cannot be with two courts simultaneously. “Courts don’t make order in vain,” she stated, explaining that granting an order for a document not in their custody would be pointless.
With the passport issue resolved, at least for the FCT High Court, the case has been adjourned to October 8, 9, and November 13, 2025, for further hearing. The EFCC had previously filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that releasing the passport could delay proceedings.
