By Ayomide Otitoju
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the 2026 lesser Hajj. Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which has been in the court’s custody.
Bello is currently standing trial on charges of alleged misappropriation of funds brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The application for travel was personally deposed to by Bello and filed by his lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, who told the court that the former governor had not performed the lesser Hajj in over eight years and sought divine intervention regarding the ongoing EFCC case.
Lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, stated that the prosecution did not oppose the travel request but emphasized that scheduled trial dates must remain unchanged.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite approved the release of Bello’s passport from March 13, 2026, for 10 days. The court adjourned proceedings until Friday, January 30, for the continuation of the seventh prosecution witness’s examination.
During earlier testimony, Olomotane Egoro, a subpoenaed official from Access Bank, reported cash inflows from local government areas in Kogi State into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd., as well as multiple cash withdrawals.
The EFCC alleges that Bello laundered N80.2 billion, accusations the former governor has denied since his arraignment.
