A former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has got the nod of a Federal High Court in Abuja to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for lesser hajj to observe the last 10 days of Ramadan.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the permission in a ruling on Thursday on an application moved by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), at the resumed hearing in his ongoing money laundering trial.
The application was not opposed by prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).
Justice Nwite also ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passports to enable him to engage in the trip expected to last between February 18 and March 19.
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Bello, who was allowed by the judge to clarify why the trip was necessary, said: “As said by my defence counsel, I have not travelled outside this country in the last eight years.
“I would have loved to spend the whole of Ramadan in Mecca and to observe Shittu Shawal immediately after Ramadan, but I do not want to take anyone for granted.”
He said in view of how things are, he has elected to spend the last 10 days of Ramadan in Mecca.
Earlier, the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, who was subpoenaed from Access Bank, gave evidence about cash inflows from Local Government Areas in Kogi State into the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-Traders International Ltd.
Egoro also testified about the many cash withdrawals carried out in the accounts of both companies.
Further hearing in the case resumes on Friday.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former governor over alleged money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion, an allegation Bello denied by pleading not guilty when he was arraigned.