Alleged N80bn Money Laundering: EFCC kicks as Yahaya Bello seeks medical trip abroad

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opposed an application filed by a former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, seeking leave of court to travel abroad for medical treatment.

 

The application was presented before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, during the resumed hearing of Bello’s alleged N80.2 billion money laundering trial, reports Channels TV.

 

His counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, urged the court to consider the defendant’s health condition as paramount and to permit him to travel.

 

He further informed the court about the application for the retrieval of the defendant’s travel documents.

 

But the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said they had filed a counter-affidavit to the application, arguing that the application was technically incompetent.

 

Pinheiro said the same application was filed at the FCT High Court, adding that it was an abuse of court process.

 

But Daudu said the prosecution was the one guilty of abuse of the court process.

 

“We were served with the counter affidavit yesterday, and we overnight filed a further affidavit to the complainant’s counter affidavit with two exhibits as well.

 

“My lord, the substance of the application is for the release of his passport in line with the conditions for the bail that if he needs, he has to apply to the court,” he said.

 

The defendant’s counsel further added that his client had medical needs to attend to during the period of the vacation, adding that after eight years of not travelling, he needed to attend to certain aspects of his health.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite subsequently adjourned to July 3 and 4 for the continuation of the trial and July 21 for ruling on the application to travel.