Court allows ex-Gov standing trial to travel to Saudi Arabia for 2026 Lesser Hajj
Court allows ex-Gov standing trial to travel to Saudi Arabia for 2026 Lesser Hajj
A Federal High Court in Abuja has authorised former Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to travel outside the country to perform the 2026 lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The approval was granted on Thursday by Justice Emeka Nwite, who directed that Bello’s international passport, currently held by the court, be temporarily released to allow him undertake the religious trip.
Bello is facing trial before the court in a case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial misconduct while in office.
The anti-graft agency is prosecuting him on charges bordering on money laundering involving N80.2 billion, allegations the former governor denied at his arraignment.
The permission to travel followed an application dated January 20, filed by Bello and supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit sworn to by him.
His lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that the application was to enable his client travel to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan to observe the lesser Hajj.
Daudu explained that Bello had not visited the Holy Land in more than eight years and wished to use the opportunity for supplication, including prayers for divine intervention over the charges instituted against him by the EFCC.
The prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, did not oppose the request. However, Pinheiro made it clear that the EFCC would not agree to any alteration of the trial schedule already fixed by the court.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite granted the request, ordering the release of the passport deposited with the court registrar.
According to the judge, “I have listened to the submissions of counsel in this matter and am minded to grant the application”.
The court subsequently approved the release of Bello’s passport from March 13, 2026, for a duration of 10 days. Proceedings in the matter were adjourned to Friday, January 30, for the continuation of the examination of the seventh prosecution witness.
Earlier in the trial, the seventh prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, an official of Access Bank who testified under subpoena, informed the court of cash inflows from various local government areas in Kogi State into accounts linked to Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd.
He further told the court that multiple cash withdrawals were made from the same accounts.
