Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday, fixed July 17 for ruling on an application filed by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello seeking to travel out of the country on health grounds.

At the resumed hearing of the money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the former governor, his counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that he had filed an application, dated 19th June, 2025 and filed on June 20, 2025.

“It seeks an order for the release of the 1st defendant/applicant’s international passport by the Registrar of the court to enable him to travel for medical attention,” he said.

The counsel said the application was predicated on 13 grounds in the face of the motion paper and supported by 22 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by Yahaya Bello himself.

The EFCC Counsel had filed a counter-affidavit, saying granting the request could delay further proceedings.

Daudu, SAN, in response to the prosecution team’s counter-affidavit, said the Defendant’s team had also filed a further affidavit of 20 paragraphs, filed on July 7, 2025, and deposed to by the applicant himself with two exhibits.

“Exhibits C is the Certified True Copy of the ruling of your lordship, admitting the defendant to bail and Exhibit D is the ruling of the Federal High Court also admitting him to bail.

“We adopt these documents in urging your lordship to grant our application,” he stated.

Responding to the Prosecution’s argument that the application was an abuse of court process in the sense that a similar application was filed at Federal High Court, Daudu argued that it could not be an abuse of court process.

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has alleged attack on his palace gate by supporters of the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

Sanusi alleged that Bayero’s supporters removed one of his palace gates during the attack.

A statement by the Kano Emirate Media Team, signed by Sadam Yakasai, said Aminu’s supporters struck the Kofar-Kudu palace, where Sanusi resides.

The statement said: “They broke the gate and attacked the guards, injuring some of them. They smashed the police vehicles in the palace.

“Aminu deliberately passed through the emir’s palace road instead of taking the proper route from Koki to Nassarawa, and his hoodlums decided to attack Gidan Rumfa.

“This is not the first time he has passed through the area. He had done that previously after he visited his Mandawari residence. He did that to intimidate the people of the area.”

The Commander General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service, NFSS, Dr. Joshua Osatimehin, has expressed his agreement with Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia on his assertion that local vigilantes and forest guards set up by the state government lack the capacity to confront bandits and other violent criminals terrorsing local communities.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, the Governor said the State Protection Guards were only permitted to carry Dane guns, while militias brazenly wield AK-47 and AK-49 rifles, making enforcement dangerous and largely ineffective.

The Governor was reacting to the poser raised by a group, Benue Advocacy Network, over the rising insecurity despite the existence of an anti-open grazing law.

Responding to questions by newsmen on the issue on Monday in Abuja, Osatimehin, who spoke through the Deputy Commander General, Intelligence, Ambassador John Metchie, said the proposed law for the establishment of NFSS, allows its operatives to bear arms, saying the Service would have what it takes to comb forests, flush out criminals and protect local communities in Benue and other states across the country from attacks.

Metchie while expressing sympathy and solidarity with the government and people of Benue State for the recent killings that took place in some communities in the area, however commended the military and other security agencies for rising up to the occasion, with a view of ensuring that such ugly incidences do not re-occur.

He also commented President Bola Tinubu for personally visiting the affected state and giving directives to the security agencies to arrest perpetrators of the crimes.

“The Nigerian Forest Security Service, sympathies with the government and people of Benue, Plateau and other states recently affected by attacks by violent criminal elements, especially families of the victims.

“We agree with Governor Alia that local vigilantes and guards cannot protect communities, especially in cases where violent criminals who operate with high grade weapons are involved.

“It is for that reason that the NFSS is here as the missing link to bridge the gap. We recognize and commend the Nigerian military, the Police, the Department of State Security, Office of the National Security Advisor, the NSCDC and other relevant agencies for the untiring efforts to secure the nation and protect her people and properties.