Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has received approval from the Federal High Court in Abuja to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 lesser Hajj. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the application, allowing the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which had been held by the court.
Bello is currently facing trial for alleged misappropriation of funds in a case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). His lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, argued that this pilgrimage was necessary for the defendant to seek divine intervention regarding the allegations, noting that he has not traveled to the Holy Land in over eight years.
The prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, did not oppose the travel request but insisted that no trial dates would be moved. Justice Nwite approved the passport’s release for a period of 10 days, starting from March 13, 2026. The court has adjourned the case until January 30, 2026, for the continuation of testimonies, including that of a subpoenaed official from Access Bank who provided evidence related to cash movements and withdrawals associated with Bello’s businesses.
Bello faces allegations of money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion, which he has consistently denied.
