Abuja, Nigeria — Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, has formally requested that his ongoing trial be moved to Kogi State. Facing a 19-count charge from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bello has written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, through his legal team led by Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN.
In his letter, Bello argued that the Lokoja Division of the Federal High Court has the appropriate territorial jurisdiction to handle the case against him. The charges, which include allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds amounting to approximately N80.2 billion, were filed by the EFCC.
During Thursday’s resumed proceedings, Bello did not appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to enter his plea. Instead, his lawyer, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the presiding trial Justice Emeka Nwite about the letter sent to the Chief Judge.
Addressing the court, Adedipe explained, “After the proceedings of the last adjourned date, I reported to our team and was informed that a letter had been sent to the honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. The letter requests that this matter be administratively transferred to the Federal High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division, which we believe has the territorial jurisdiction to handle this case.”
Adedipe further noted that the letter was received at the Chief Judge’s Chambers, and the prosecution team, led by Mr. Iseoluwa Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, was notified to provide a response to the transfer request. He stated that no response from the prosecution team or decision from the Chief Judge had been received yet.
The EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, urged the court to compel Bello’s defense team to explain his absence from the court, despite an earlier commitment to ensure his presence for arraignment. Pinhero described the defense’s explanation as an attempt to delay the proceedings and urged the court to consider contempt charges against the senior lawyers representing Bello.
Bello, who served as Kogi State’s governor for eight years, is accused of financial misconduct involving his nephew, Ali Bello, and two others, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu. The former governor previously failed to appear for his arraignment but had his lawyers file motions to set aside an arrest warrant issued against him on April 17 and to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.
While the court refused to vacate the arrest warrant in a May 10 ruling, it allowed Bello the opportunity to voluntarily present himself for arraignment.
The situation remains tense as the court deliberates on the transfer request and Bello’s future court appearances. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the former governor and the legal handling of high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria.
