The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, rejected the request for a foreign medical treatment by a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Bello is seeking for the release of his international passport.
However, on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite rejected his application.
The court premised its decision on the fact that the medical report attached to the application was not signed by its maker.
It gave the ruling at the resumed hearing of the alleged money laundering case filed against the former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The defendant had applied for the release of his travel document to enable him travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention.
The judge said Counsel to the defendant argued that the applicant was a known hypertensive patient for about 15 years.
The lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, was also said to have presented Exhibits A and B, which constituted expert report on the health status of the applicant, saying that sufficient materials had been placed before the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicant.
The judge also recalled that the prosecution team argued that the application was an abuse of court process.
Prosecution, while urging the court to dismiss the application, noted that the reliefs sought were similar and that the motion was technically incompetent as the sureties to the defendant were not informed.
The court held that Exhibit B, which was the medical report provided by a doctor, was not signed by its maker, and as such, lacked any legal efficacy.
The Court emphasised that an unsigned document carries no weight in law and is considered worthless.
"In other words, Exhibit B is devoid of probative value and cannot be relied upon by the Court," the judge held.
"The defendant has failed to placed sufficient material before this court for his passport to be released for him to travel.
Consequently, this application is hereby refused," Justice Nwite said.
The case was thereafter adjourned to October 7 and 10 and November 10 and 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.