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Speaker 1: Nigeria Anti Corruption Police. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

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EFCC has told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja

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that the immediate past Governor of Coggi State, Yuhayabello, is

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on international Red Alert or on the watch lists of

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security operatives abroad and if left to travel abroad for

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medical treatment, he could be arrested like the way and manner,

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a Nigerian social media influencer in United States US convicted

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forrester Ramon Abbe aka Hushpuppy was arrested, adding the charges

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against the ex governor are connected to buildings he allegedly

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owned in Dubai and bank transactions in the US and

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United Kingdom UK, praying the court to order Yuhayabello to

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undergo the medical treatment in the ultramodern hospital the ex

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governor had boasted he built in Coggi State. Details of

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the reporter presented verbatim below as made available by the

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Public Relations Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

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e FCC on Thursday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

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EFCC on Thursday June twenty seventh, twenty twenty five, opposed

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an application filed by former Coggi State Governor Yehaya Adozabelo

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seeking leave of court to travel abroad for medical treatment.

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The application was presented before Justice A. Mecha N White

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of the Federal High Court, Maitama Habouja during the resumed

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hearing of Bello’s alleged eighty point two billion naira’s money

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laundering trial. His Council J. B. Daodu Sam urged the

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court to consider the defendant’s health condition as paramount and

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to grant him permission to travel. Daodu informed the court

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that the application was brought pursuant to Section one hundred

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and seventy three two of the Administration of Criminal Justice

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Act ACJA and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction. He said

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the application was backed by a twenty two paragraph after

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David deposed to by the defendant himself, including annexius such

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as a medical report and a letter from a consultant cardiologist.

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He further argued that Bello had not traveled outside Nigeria

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in over eight years and now required urgent medical attention,

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which according to him, cannot be provided even in the hospital.

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He built the subject of this application is the release

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of his passport, which was surrendered as part of his

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bail conditions. What should be considered is not whether there

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are alternatives in Nigeria, but whether the defendant poses a

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flight risk, he said. He also claimed that the defendant

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has no criminal record abroad and may not pose a

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flight risk. He has no criminal record in those countries.

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The defendant is not a flight risk and will return

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before the end of August. My Lord can even specify

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a return date, he said. However, Prosecuting Council Kemi Pinheiro

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sam strongly objected to the application, describing it as an

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abuse of court process. He argued that Bello had previously

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filed similar applications before another court, the current Court and

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the FCT High Court, seeking the same relief, which he

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said was improper and confusing. Pinnhiro advanced five main reasons

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the application should be denied. First, he said the motion

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was technically incompetent as the sureties to Bellow’s bail were

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not informed or included in the application, thereby raising questions

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about their liability if the defendant fails to return. He

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also emphasized that the case involved money laundering and money

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laundering is international in nature, referencing charges related to properties

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in Dubai and funds in bank accounts in the US

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and UK. The defendant is already under a red notice

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and international alert. He risks being arrested abroad and extradited.

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He could be hush puppied from Dubai, Pinhiro warned, alluding

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to a known cybercrime case. The prosecution further discredited the

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medical report submitted by the defense, noting that the doctor

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who signed it failed to indicate his qualifications or specialization.

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He argued that the health concerns mentioned, such as low

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potassium and mild hypertension, could be managed locally. He says

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he has low potassium bananas and paupoor will handle that

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this is not sufficient reason to fly to the UK,

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he said. He also pointed out the irony that Bello

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had boasted during his tenure of building an ultramodern hospital

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in Coggi State. From Abouja to Lakoja is two hours.

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I advise him to visit that hospital rather than take

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a six hour flight abroad, he said. In his reply

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on points of law, Dalou insisted that the Sureties were

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not required to be parties to the motion and argued

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that the red notice previously issued by EFCC had lapsed

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following Bello’s arraignment in Nigeria. He urged the court to

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exercise its discretion in favor of the defendant. Meanwhile, earlier

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in the proceedings, cross examination of prosecution witness IOV p

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W four Rian Maschliobata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, continued.

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The defense questioned his jurisdiction over several of the bank

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accounts submitted as exhibits, many of which were outside the

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branches under his direct supervision. Clarifying an earlier issue raised

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by the prosecution, p W four told the court that

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he wished to place it on record that he was

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not harassed by Johayabello’s security team, but rather experienced difficulty

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in finding a seat while in court. I want it

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on record that the incident happened while I was trying

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to get a seat. I later got one, and I

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have no issue with anyone, he said. Following all submissions,

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just as s. A. Mecha, N White adjourned the matter

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to July third and four, twenty twenty five, for continue

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equation of trial and fixed July twenty first, twenty twenty

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five for ruling on the defendant’s application to travel abroad

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posas one on medi bring in you bring it in

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a mortgages alway