The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday approved a request by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, allowing him to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the lesser hajj during the final 10 days of Ramadan.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request after Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, formally presented the application before the court. Daudu explained that the motion, dated January 19, was filed on January 20, and sought the temporary release of Bello’s international passports to enable him to undertake the religious trip.

According to the senior lawyer, the application asked the court to permit Bello to travel to the Holy Land during the Ramadan period, which begins on February 18 and ends on March 19, specifically to observe the lesser hajj.

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

When asked by the court to clarify how long he intended to stay abroad, Bello said that although he would have preferred to spend the entire Ramadan in Mecca, he was conscious of the ongoing trial against him by the EFCC.

He told the court that he had not travelled outside Nigeria in the past eight years and only wished to spend the final 10 days of Ramadan in Mecca to offer prayers.

“As my lawyer has stated, I have not left the country in the last eight years. I would have loved to observe the whole of Ramadan in Mecca and remain there for the Shittu Shawal prayers afterward, but I do not want to take anyone for granted,” Bello said.

He therefore confirmed that his trip would be limited to the last 10 days of Ramadan.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite noted that the prosecution did not oppose the application and granted Bello permission to spend only 10 days in the Holy Land, beginning from March 13.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to January 30 for the continuation of the trial.