Yahaya Bello’s bid to retrieve his passport for medical travel fails as a Federal High Court rules his unsigned medical report inadmissible in law

Yahaya Bello has failed to convince a Federal High Court in Abuja to release his international passport for medical travel.

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Justice Emeka Nwite ruled on Monday that the medical report presented in support of the request lacked legal value.

The former Kogi State Governor is currently on trial for alleged money laundering involving ₦80.2 billion.

He had asked the court to return his passport to allow him to travel to the United Kingdom for treatment.

According to his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), Yahaya Bello has suffered from hypertension for over 15 years and urgently needs specialist care abroad.

Two documents were submitted to the court, including Exhibit B, a medical report that Justice Nwite found inadmissible.

“A document not signed by its maker has no legal weight. Exhibit B is devoid of probative value and cannot be relied upon by this court,” the judge said.

The court stressed that Yahaya Bello did not provide enough credible information to justify the return of his passport.

Justice Nwite disagreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s view that the motion constituted an abuse of court process.

He said the application was valid and filed through the correct legal procedure.

He also dismissed the EFCC’s argument that the former governor’s sureties should have been notified before the motion was brought.

“The matter before the court is between Yahaya Bello and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not between the sureties and the state,” Nwite ruled.

The judge noted that the FCT High Court’s earlier order requiring leave to travel had been respected.

He stated that this court and the FCT court are of equal jurisdiction, and no procedural breach occurred.

However, with no valid signed medical report on record, the court had no lawful basis to approve the application.

“Consequently, this application is hereby refused,” Justice Nwite concluded.

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The trial continues on October 7 and 10, and November 10 and 11, 2025..