Court releases Yahaya Bello’s passport for 2026 lesser hajj amid ₦80.2bn EFCC trial

A 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, despite his ongoing trial over alleged financial crimes.

Justice Emeka Nwite, on Thursday, ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passport, which has been in the custody of the court, to enable him undertake the religious pilgrimage during the month of Ramadan.

Bello is currently facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering amounting to ₦80.2 billion—charges he has consistently denied.

The former governor, in an application dated January 20 and supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit personally sworn to by him, asked the court for permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for prayers and supplication.

Moving the application, Bello’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that his client had not visited the Holy Land in over eight years and desired to perform the lesser Hajj to seek divine intervention over the allegations against him.

The prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said the EFCC would not oppose the request but insisted that all previously fixed trial dates must remain unchanged.

In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite granted the application, noting that he was persuaded by the submissions of counsel on both sides. The court consequently approved the release of Bello’s passport from March 13, 2026, for a period of 10 days.

The judge adjourned proceedings to Friday, January 30, for the continuation of the trial, particularly the examination of the seventh prosecution witness.

Earlier, the witness, PW7 Olomotane Egoro, an official of Access Bank subpoenaed by the court, testified on cash inflows from several local government areas of Kogi State into accounts linked to Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Limited.

He also disclosed that multiple cash withdrawals were made from the same accounts.

The trial continues as the court balances the defendant’s right to religious observance with the demands of justice.