Court Bounces Yahaya Bello’s Bid to Stop N110.4bn Fraud Trial
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has dismissed an application by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the N110.4 billion fraud case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court delivered the ruling on Tuesday, holding that the case should proceed despite Bello’s objections to the court’s authority to entertain the matter.
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge involving allegations of criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to N110.4 billion.
In his application, the former governor asked the court to strike out the charge, marked FCT/CR/778/2024, arguing that the FCT High Court lacked the territorial jurisdiction required to hear the case.
He also contended that the proceedings amounted to an abuse of court process because a related case, identified as Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, is already pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the application, describing it as misconceived and aimed at delaying the trial.
Pinheiro argued that the offences contained in the charge were brought under the Penal Code and therefore fall within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court. He further maintained that the court was competent to hear the case because the properties allegedly acquired with proceeds of the offences are located within the Federal Capital Territory.
The prosecution also submitted that the location of the assets linked to the alleged offences provided sufficient territorial basis for the court to assume jurisdiction over the matter.
Following the ruling, the court affirmed its authority to continue hearing the case, clearing the way for the prosecution of Bello and his co-defendants on the alleged fraud and money laundering charges.
The EFCC accuses the former governor and the two other defendants of involvement in transactions amounting to N110.4 billion, allegations they have denied.
