A former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been granted permission by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the 2026 lesser Hajj.

In granting the application, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that Bello’s international passport, which has been in the custody of the court, be temporarily released to him.

The former governor is currently standing trial before the court over alleged misappropriation of funds, in a case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The application for permission to travel was personally deposed to by Bello and moved by his lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN. Counsel told the court that the request was to enable the defendant travel to the Holy Land to observe the lesser Hajj during the month of Ramadan.

Daudu further informed the court that Bello had not travelled to the Holy Land in over eight years and that there was a need for him to do so to pray for divine intervention regarding the charges brought against him by the EFCC.

Responding, lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution did not oppose the request for the defendant to travel but would not concede any of the dates already fixed for the continuation of trial.

In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite granted the application and approved the release of Bello’s passport from March 13, 2026, for a period of 10 days.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until Friday, January 30, for the continuation of the examination of the seventh prosecution witness.

Earlier in his testimony, the witness, Olomotane Egoro, a subpoenaed official of Access Bank, told the court of cash inflows from local government areas in Kogi State into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd. He also testified that several cash withdrawals were made from the accounts.

The EFCC is prosecuting Bello over alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion, allegations which the former governor denied when he was arraigned before the court. (Channels TV)

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