Court grants Yahaya Bello permission to travel to Mecca for Lesser Hajj

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, permission to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to observe the last 10 days of Ramadan.

Justice Emeka Nwite approved the request after Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, moved a motion seeking the temporary release of the former governor’s international passport to enable him perform the lesser hajj (Umrah).

Daudu told the court that the application, dated January 19 and filed on January 20, was to allow his client travel to the Holy Land during the Ramadan period, which is expected to run from February 18 to March 19.

He explained that the former governor intended to spend only the final days of Ramadan in Mecca, noting that the request was made in good faith and with respect for the ongoing trial.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, did not oppose the application.

When asked by the court to clarify the duration of his trip, Bello said although he wished to spend the entire Ramadan period in Mecca, he was conscious of the need to respect the court and his ongoing trial.

“I have not travelled outside this country in the last eight years,” Bello told the court.

“I would have loved to spend the whole of Ramadan in Mecca and observe Eid-el-Fitr there, but I do not want to take anyone for granted.”

He added that he would only spend the last 10 days of Ramadan in the Holy Land for prayers.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite noted the absence of opposition from the prosecution and granted the request, limiting the trip strictly to 10 days.

“The defendant shall only spend 10 days in the Holy Land, commencing from March 13,” the judge ruled.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until January 30 for the continuation of trial. (NAN)