The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory FCT has clarified that the international passport belonging to Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor, is not in its custody.
During the resumed hearing of the alleged money laundering case against the former governor, Justice Maryann Anenih confirmed that the defendant’s passport is with the Federal High Court in Abuja.
She noted that even if the request for its release were granted, it would be ineffective since the passport is not with the FCT High Court. The former governor is facing similar charges in both courts and had sought his passport to travel abroad for health reasons.
His counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, emphasised that the passport was not in the court’s custody.
“A review of the Court’s record revealed that the applicant had previously been ordered to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the registry of the Court,” the judge said.
“However, upon further enquiry and search conducted by the Court, it was discovered that the said international passport was not presently in the custody of the Court’s registry but with the Federal High Court.”
“The defendant even deposed to an affidavit himself, stating that his passport had been deposited with the Federal High Court in a bail earlier granted to him.
“The simple logic is that the passport cannot be with two different courts at the same time. Since the defendant has admittedly deposited the same with the Federal High Court, there is no reason to make any order here in regards to the application.
“Courts don’t make order in vain and as such, this Court will not make any order that will be in vain since the passport in issue is not with this court but the Federal High Court.”
The defendant, in his application, had also indicated that his travel documents were with the Federal High Court.
Justice Anenih, after the ruling, adjourned the case to October 8, 9, and November 13, 2025, for continuation of the hearing.
