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The Federal High Court, Abuja, has refused a request by ex-Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to release his passport for medical travel.

The court ruled that the medical report attached to the application was not signed by the medical consultant who examined him.‎

‎Justice Emeka Nwite stated this in his ruling on the application by the ex-governor at the resumed hearing of the alleged money laundering case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.‎‎

In the ruling, the Court emphasised that an unsigned document carries no legal weight and is considered worthless.

In other words, it is devoid of probative value and cannot be relied upon by the Court, the judge held.‎‎

“The defendant has failed to place sufficient material before this court for his passport to be released for him to travel.

Consequently, this application is hereby refused,” Justice Nwite said.

‎‎About five days ago, the FCT High Court had refused to grant Yahaya Bello’s request to travel on grounds of not being in custody of his passport.

‎‎The case was thereafter adjourned to October 7 and 10 and November 10 and 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.‎

A group of retired police officers took to the streets of Abuja today in a peaceful protest to draw attention to the poor welfare conditions of serving and retired members of the Nigeria Police Force.

The protest was led by the Convener of the Revolution Now Movement, Omoyele Sowore, who joined the retirees to demand urgent intervention from the federal government, reports Channels TV.

They expressed displeasure over what they described as years of neglect, non-payment of pensions, and poor treatment of officers who had served the nation diligently.

Sowore, speaking during the protest, called on the government to recognise the sacrifices made by police officers and ensure that their welfare was prioritised.

The protesters also warned that if the government failed to respond promptly, they would sustain their action until their demands were met.

In Taraba State, the retirees staged a protest with banners and placards in Jalingo, the state capital.

Among other demands, they called for an exit from the Police Contributory Pension Scheme.

The inscriptions on some of the placards read, ‘We demand total exit from the deadly Police Contributory Pension Scheme,’ Scrap police contribution pension scheme,’ and ‘We need our full gratuity’.

‘Rights of Retirees Must Be Protected’

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had yesterday directed all Commissioners of Police across the country and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to provide maximum security for the planned peaceful protest by retired police officers.

Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement.He also cautioned against the spread of misinformation surrounding the protests scheduled to be held nationwide today.

“The IGP has ordered that the rights of our retired officers who have chosen to protest must be protected, and the protest should serve as a model of dignified expression of grievance,” the Force spokesman said yesterday.

Update later…

As the 21-day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government draws to a close on July 23, the Nigerian Medical Association has warned it will ground medical services nationwide if the government fails to meet its demands.

Its President, Prof Bala Audu, who confirmed thison Sunday, noted that the association was prepared to take decisive action should the government fail to respond adequately to its demands.

Prof Audu stressed that the association’s demands were critical to the survival of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the welfare of medical professionals across the country.

The NMA had, on July 2, issued an ultimatum in protest against a circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on revised allowances for medical and dental officers in the federal public service, which the doctors kicked against for violating prior agreements.

The association issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to withdraw the circular and meet its other demands to avert industrial action in the health sector.

“We have made our position clear. The ultimatum ends on July 23, and if the Federal Government does not address our demands, we may have no choice but to proceed with a strike,” he said.

According to him, the circular contains provisions that were not mutually agreed upon and which undermine the remuneration and welfare of medical professionals.

“We have rejected that circular outright. We expect that any new directive affecting our members should be the outcome of mutual consultation, not something imposed,” he stated.

Prof Audu disclosed that the NMA had been engaging with the Federal Government to avert a crisis.

“The last meeting happened two weeks ago and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako; the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Hospital Services, and the representative of minister of labour were at the meeting, and some affiliate of the NMA were present, and I was part of that meeting as well.

“However, he felt that we should go for a further meeting, and another meeting was slated for last week, unfortunately, in the week, we lost the former President Muhammadu Buhari, so the meeting couldn’t be held.

“However, the next meeting is supposed to happen between us, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, which issued a circular that we feel is obnoxious, and we have rejected it. We would also meet with the Ministry of Finance and representatives from the Ministry of Health,” he added.

The NMA president expressed concern that time was running out, adding that unless the meeting was held within the next few days, the association may be left with no other alternative but industrial action.

“We expect that after the funeral ceremonies, government stakeholders will reconvene with us, hopefully by Monday. Otherwise, the 21-day ultimatum still stands.

“If the government fails to prioritise this matter, a strike may be inevitable,” he added.

The Katsina State NMA branch, in a communique issued after its State Executive Council meeting, expressed “grave disappointment” and “unequivocal condemnation” over the circular.

The meeting, held in Katsina, on Saturday, noted that “NMA Katsina State branch hereby rejects National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’s (NSIWC) circular (SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646) dated 27th June, 2025 on review of allowances for medical/dental officers in the federal public service and demands urgent government withdrawal action and fulfillment of all the demands.

”The communique, made available to newsmen on Sunday, was jointly signed by the Chairman, NMA Katsina, Dr Muhammadu Sani and Secretary, Dr Yahya Salisu.

The association warned that it could not guarantee non-disruption of health services if their demands were not met.