ABUJA: 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 granted the application after Bello’s counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, moved the motion dated January 19 and filed on January 20.
Daudu told the court that the application sought the temporary release of Bello’s international passports to enable him to perform the lesser hajj between February 18 and March 19.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, did not oppose the application.
Bello, while addressing the court, said although he would have loved to spend the entire Ramadan in Mecca, he was mindful of his ongoing trial.
He noted that he had not travelled outside Nigeria in the last eight years and would only spend the last 10 days of Ramadan in the Holy Land.
Justice Nwite granted the request, ruling that Bello would spend only 10 days in Mecca, commencing from March 13, and adjourned the case until January 30 for continuation of trial.
