The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday struck out an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking to strike out the N110 billion fraud charge instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Maryanne Anenih, who presided over the court, held that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the case and ordered that the trial should continue.
It was reported that Bello is standing trial in Charge No. FCT/CR/778/2024: FRN v. Yahaya Adoza Bello & 2 Ors.
The former governor, through his lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), had asked the court to quash the 16-count charge, arguing that the FCT High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the case.
He also argued that the case was an abuse of court process as a related criminal case involving him was already before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The defence contended that the existence of Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 before the Federal High Court, made the present proceedings improper.
Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), the EFCC’s lawyer, opposed the application describing it as misconceived and aimed at delaying the trial.
Pinheiro contended that the offences under the charge were derived from provisions under the Penal Code and were thus triable before the FCT High Court.
He also argued that several properties allegedly acquired with the proceeds of the offences were situated in Abuja thereby giving the court territorial jurisdiction over the matter.
The senior advocate on the ground of alleged abuse of process of court submitted that the charges before the two courts were different in nature and substance.
He said the case before the FCT High Court was one of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust under the Penal Code while the case before the Federal High Court was of alleged money laundering offences under the Money Laundering Act.
Pinheiro pointed out that the parties in the two cases were not the same, as Bello was the sole defendant in the Federal High Court case, while he was standing trial with two co-defendants before the FCT High Court.
Justice Anenih in his ruling of June 16, 2026 agreed with the submission of the EFCC and held that the court possessed the necessary jurisdiction to hear the case.
The judge also found that the proceedings did not constitute an abuse of court process.
The court, therefore, dismissed Bello’s application in its entirety.
The third defendant in the case had also filed a similar application which was dismissed on the ground that it has no merit.
Justice Anenih then ordered that the trial should continue.
The court then asked the prosecution to proceed with their case by calling their 16th witness who was in court and ready to give evidence.
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