Former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, has requested Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court to move his trial for alleged money laundering to Lokoja, where the alleged crimes occurred.
Through Yahaya Bello’s legal team led by Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN, Bello argued that the court in Lokoja has the proper jurisdiction to hear the case since the alleged funds and offenses are connected to Kogi state.
“All the funds which the complainant alleged to have been laundered by the defendant are monies of the Government of Kogi State whose State Capital is in Lokoja.
“All the Bank Accounts from which the said Monies are stated to be laundered from as shown in the proof of evidence are domiciled with the branches of the respective Banks in Lokoja, Kogi State.
“Thus, the Law is settled that generally, the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction is one all over the Federation, the Court is divided into judicial divisions and where a crime is committed in any of the divisions, criminal proceedings thereof must be initiated and prosecuted in that very judicial division of the Federal High Court where the act or omission or the elements of the offence were allegedly committed.
“It is pertinent to note that the Defendant was Governor of Kogi State, the charges and the proof of evidence indicate criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and money laundering in respect of the statutory funds of Kogi state.
“These are the alleged predicate offences and all their elements took place in Kogi State, within the territorial jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division.
“We humbly urge my Lord, to transfer the subject charge to the Lokoja Division of the Federal High Court which is the Division with the Territorial Jurisdiction to try the case,” the letter read.
His lawyers presented this request to Justice Emeka Nwite during a court session, stating that they await the Chief Judge’s decision.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) strongly opposed the transfer, accusing Bello’s legal team, including Adeola Adedipe SAN, of delaying tactics and failing to produce Bello in court as promised.
EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinhero SAN, urged the court to hold the defense lawyers in contempt for not fulfilling their commitment to have Bello present for trial on multiple occasions.
Following these arguments, Adedipe SAN applied to withdraw from representing Bello, denying responsibility for ensuring Bello’s presence in court and citing differences with the prosecution’s account of events.
EFCC’s counsel objected to this late withdrawal, asserting that Adedipe should be held accountable to maintain the integrity of the judicial process.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case to July 17 and instructed both defense lawyers to ensure their presence at the next hearing.
The charges against Bello include money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totaling approximately N80.2 billion, allegedly involving Bello, his nephew Ali Bello, and two others.
Despite previous non-attendance, Bello’s legal team has also filed motions to quash an arrest warrant issued earlier and contest the court’s jurisdiction over his case.