EFCC logo and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello
Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to observe the 2026 lesser Hajj (Umrah).
Justice Emeka Nwite, while delivering a brief ruling, ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which has been in the custody of the court, to enable the trip.
Bello is currently facing trial before the court over alleged misappropriation of public funds, following charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The request for travel was contained in an application personally deposed to by the former governor and moved by his lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN. Counsel explained that the application was made to allow Bello travel to the Holy Land during the month of Ramadan to perform the lesser Hajj.
Daudu further told the court that Bello had not undertaken the religious exercise in more than eight years, adding that the journey was necessary for spiritual reasons, including prayers for divine intervention over the charges brought against him by the anti-graft agency.
Responding on behalf of the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the EFCC did not oppose the application for travel. However, he stressed that the prosecution would not agree to alter or vacate any dates already fixed for the continuation of trial.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite approved the release of Bello’s passport from March 13, 2026, granting him a 10-day window to undertake the pilgrimage.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until Friday, January 30, for the continuation of proceedings, specifically the examination of the seventh prosecution witness.
Earlier in his testimony, the witness, Olomotane Egoro, a subpoenaed official of Access Bank, told the court that there were cash inflows from various local government areas in Kogi State into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd. He also disclosed that multiple cash withdrawals were made from the accounts.
The EFCC is prosecuting Bello over alleged money laundering involving ₦80.2 billion, charges which the former governor denied when he was arraigned before the court.
