Nigeria, July 21 -- The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has denied former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello's application for the release of his international passport, which he sought to use for medical treatment abroad.

Justice Nwite stated that the medical report submitted by the defendant was unsigned, thereby lacking any legal weight. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raised concerns that the application constituted an abuse of the court's process.

Bello's lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, maintained that the application was supported by sufficient material regarding the defendant's health status, referencing Exhibits A and B. However, the prosecution contended that the request was techn...