Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been asked to turn down a request by former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to travel abroad for medical vacation.
The plea came yesterday from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its counter-motion where it argued that granting the request would delay the trial before the court.
The agency’s counsel, Mr Chulwudi Enebele (SAN) told the court that Bello’s application was an abuse of the court process.
He therefore urged the court to dismiss the application..
Bello, through his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) soughtfor an order for the release of his international passport by the registrar of the court to enable him to travel overseas for medical attention.
The prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebele (SAN), while defending the EFCC’s counter-affidavit, said Bello should have put his sureties on notice with regard to his application to travel abroad.
According to him, the sureties need to decide whether they would want to continue to stand as sureties for him when he travels.
He added that by filing the same application at both the FCT High Court and Federal High Court, the defendant’s counsel were setting the courts on a collision course.
“If the Federal High Court refuses that application and my lord grants it, it will make a mockery of our judicial system,” the EFCC lawyer argued.
In his response, Daudu said the sureties were already aware.
“We need not put them on notice,” he said.
On the INTERPOL arresting Bello, Daudu asserted that it is a dead argument because the applicant submitted himself for trial.
“He has never flouted your lordship’s order. They have even forgotten about those red alerts,” the lawyer added, urging the court to grant the application.
After listening to both parties, Justice Anenih adjourned the case to July 17, 2025 for ruling.
