The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted permission to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the lesser hajj.
Justice Emeka Nwite approved the request after Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, moved an application seeking the temporary release of his international passports.
Daudu told the court that the motion, dated January 19 and filed on January 20, was to enable the former governor observe the last 10 days of Ramadan in the Holy Land.
He explained that although Ramadan would run from February 18 to March 19, Bello was only asking for permission to spend the final days in Mecca.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, did not oppose the application.
Earlier, Bello told the court that while he would have preferred to spend the entire Ramadan in Mecca, he was mindful of his ongoing trial.
The former governor said he had not travelled outside Nigeria in the last eight years and only intended to use the period for prayers.
Granting the request, Justice Nwite noted the absence of opposition from the prosecution and ordered that Bello should spend only 10 days in the Holy Land, beginning from March 13.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until January 30 for continuation of trial.