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 (Umrah).
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Thursday, ordering the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which had been deposited with the court as part of his bail conditions. The former governor is currently standing trial on an 18-count charge bordering on the alleged misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The request, filed on January 20 and supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit, was moved by Bello’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN. He told the court that the application was driven by the defendant’s desire to observe the Lesser Hajj during the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Daudu informed the court that Bello had not visited the Holy Land in over eight years and considered the pilgrimage spiritually significant. According to him, the trip would provide the former governor the opportunity to pray over the legal challenges he currently faces
Lead prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, stated that the EFCC did not oppose the application for the religious journey. However, he stressed that the prosecution would not agree to any alteration of already scheduled trial dates on account of the trip.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite approved the release of Bello’s passport from March 13, 2026, for a period of 10 days.
“I have listened to the submissions of counsel in this matter and am minded to grant the application,” the judge ruled.
Prior to the ruling on the travel request, the court proceeded with the cross-examination of the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), Mr. Olomotane Egoro, an Access Bank official who testified under subpoena.
Egoro gave evidence on financial transactions linked to the case, including substantial deposits from Kogi State Local Government Areas into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd. He also detailed multiple cash withdrawals made from the same accounts during the period under investigation.
The EFCC alleges that Bello orchestrated a money-laundering scheme amounting to ₦80.2 billion during his tenure as governor. The former governor has consistently denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The matter was adjourned until January 30, 2026, for the continuation of the examination-in-chief of the prosecution witness.
