The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah) during the final days of the Ramadan fasting period. The approval allows Bello to spend a strictly limited period of 10 days in Mecca before returning to Nigeria.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Justice Emeka Nwite, who considered an application filed by Bello’s legal team seeking the temporary release of his international travel documents. The former governor is currently facing trial over allegations brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Okay News reports that Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that the application was dated January 19 and formally filed on January 20. The request was specifically made to enable Bello observe the last 10 days of Ramadan in the holy city, a period regarded by Muslims as spiritually significant.
In his submission before the court, Bello stated that although he would have preferred to remain in Mecca for the entire Ramadan period, he deliberately limited his request out of respect for the court and the ongoing proceedings. He further disclosed that he has not travelled outside Nigeria for the past eight years.
The court also noted that the EFCC, represented by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, raised no objection to the application, a position that weighed in Bello’s favour. Following this, Justice Nwite ruled that the former governor must adhere strictly to the approved 10-day duration, beginning from March 13.
As part of the ruling, the judge emphasised that Bello must return promptly to continue facing trial, reaffirming the court’s commitment to ensuring that judicial processes are not delayed. The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 30 for the continuation of proceedings.
The decision adds to a growing list of court-approved travel requests granted under strict conditions to defendants standing trial, highlighting the balance courts often seek between constitutional rights and the demands of criminal justice administration.
