The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opposed a fresh request by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Bello, who is currently standing trial for alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering, made the request before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja. His lawyer, J.B. Daudu, said the former governor’s health condition needed urgent attention that he could not get within Nigeria.
Daudu told the court that the application was supported by a medical report and a letter from a cardiologist. He also reminded the court that Bello had not left Nigeria in over eight years and that the case was only about getting back his passport.
“What should be considered is not whether there are alternatives in Nigeria but whether the defendant poses a flight risk,” Daudu argued.
But EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the request. He said it was another attempt to delay the case and confuse the court, since Bello had made similar applications in other courts. Pinheiro also warned that Bello could escape justice if allowed to travel, pointing out that the charges involved foreign properties and bank accounts in Dubai, the US, and the UK.
“The defendant is already under a red notice and international alert. He risks being arrested abroad and extradited. He could be ‘Hushpuppied’ from Dubai,” Pinheiro said, referring to a past case of a Nigerian arrested overseas for cybercrime.
Pinheiro also doubted the medical documents provided, saying the doctor didn’t mention his qualifications and that the health problems listed were not serious.
“He says he has low potassium; bananas and pawpaw will handle that,” Pinheiro said. “From Abuja to Lokoja is two hours. I advise him to visit that hospital he built in Kogi State rather than take a six-hour flight abroad.”
Daudu disagreed, insisting that the EFCC’s red notice was no longer valid since Bello had already been arraigned. He also said the sureties for Bello’s bail were not required to be part of the application to travel.
Earlier in the hearing, a witness from Zenith Bank, Aryan Mashelia Bata, continued his cross-examination. The defence questioned his control over some of the bank accounts linked to the case. Bata also cleared the air about an earlier claim, saying he was not harassed in court but had only struggled to find a seat.
The judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, has fixed July 3 and 4 for the continuation of the trial and will give a ruling on the travel request on July 21, 2025.
