Rita Odafe
Ali Bello
Ali Bello, who is the nephew of the former governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, has been granted permission by the Federal High Court in Abuja to travel to the UK for medical reasons while his fraud trial is ongoing.
The decision was made by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who also demanded the release of Ali Bello’s passport, which had been confiscated as part of his bail terms.
Overruling objections from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which opposed Bello’s request to travel abroad, Justice Egwuatu found the prosecution’s arguments lacking in substance, pointing out the defendant’s adherence to previous court directives.
Emphasizing Bello’s past compliance with court orders, Justice Egwuatu stated, “Since the grant of bail, he has not breached the terms of bail and has been coming to court to stand his trial. It is not controverted that this court had on two previous occasions granted the applicant similar prayers.”
The judge stressed the significance of ensuring the defendant’s health for a fair trial, asserting that “I wholeheartedly subscribe to the view that a defendant should be alive to stand trial” and face the consequences if found guilty.
The court instructed the deputy chief registrar to return Bello’s passport, allowing him to travel for medical treatment. Bello must return the passport by September 15 to adhere to the court’s conditions.
