A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a request by former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to travel to Saudi Arabia to observe the 2026 lesser Hajj.
Justice Emeka Nwite, on Thursday, ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which had earlier been deposited with the court, to allow him undertake the religious pilgrimage.
Bello is currently facing trial over alleged misappropriation of public funds in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency is prosecuting him on charges of money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion, allegations he denied at his arraignment.
In an application dated January 20 and supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit sworn to by Bello, the former governor sought the court’s permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for religious supplication.
Arguing the motion, Bello’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that his client intended to travel during the month of Ramadan to perform the lesser Hajj.
He added that Bello had not visited the Holy Land in over eight years and desired to pray for divine intervention over the charges brought against him by the EFCC.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, stated that the EFCC did not oppose the request but emphasized that the agency would not agree to any alteration of the already fixed trial dates.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite granted the application and directed the court registrar to release Bello’s international passport.
“I have listened to the submissions of counsel in this matter and I am inclined to grant the application,” the judge ruled.
The court consequently approved the release of the passport from March 13, 2026, for a period of 10 days, and adjourned the case to Friday, January 30, for the continuation of the testimony of the seventh prosecution witness.
Earlier, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, an official of Access Bank who testified under subpoena, told the court that funds from several local government areas in Kogi State were paid into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd. He further disclosed that multiple cash withdrawals were made from the accounts.