The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the 2026 lesser Hajj.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which had been deposited with the court. Bello is currently standing trial over alleged misappropriation of funds in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The request was contained in an application filed on January 20 and supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit personally deposed to by the former governor. Moving the application, Bello’s lead counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that his client sought permission to travel during the Ramadan period to observe the lesser Hajj.
Daudu noted that Bello had not visited Saudi Arabia in over eight years and said the trip would give him the opportunity to pray for divine intervention regarding the charges brought against him by the EFCC.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said the EFCC did not oppose the application on religious grounds but stressed that Bello must not miss any court dates scheduled for the continuation of his trial.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite said:
“I have listened to the submissions of counsel in this matter and am minded to grant the application.”
The court approved the release of Bello’s passport from March 13, 2026, for a period of 10 days, after which it must be returned to the court. The case was adjourned to Friday, January 30, for the continuation of the examination of the seventh prosecution witness (PW7).
Earlier, PW7, Mr. Olomotane Egoro, a subpoenaed official of Access Bank, testified on cash inflows from Kogi State local government areas into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd, as well as multiple cash withdrawals from the accounts.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello over alleged money laundering involving ₦80.2 billion, an allegation the former governor denied when he was arraigned.
