By Dennis Okechukwu
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted permission to a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to observe the lesser hajj during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request on Thursday after Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), moved an application seeking leave for the trip at the resumed hearing of the former governor’s ongoing money laundering trial.
The application was not opposed by the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).
In his ruling, Justice Nwite also ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passports to enable him undertake the trip, which is expected to last between February 18 and March 19.
Addressing the court, Bello explained that he had not travelled outside Nigeria in the last eight years and had initially hoped to spend the entire Ramadan period in Mecca but chose to limit the trip to the final 10 days to avoid inconveniencing the court.
Earlier in the proceedings, the seventh prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, who was subpoenaed from Access Bank, testified on cash inflows from various local government areas in Kogi State into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Limited.
Egoro also gave evidence on multiple cash withdrawals made from the accounts of the two companies.
The court adjourned the matter to Friday for continuation of hearing.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello over alleged money laundering amounting to ₦80.2 billion, an allegation he denied after pleading not guilty to the charges.