The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has turned down an application from former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. He wanted to dismiss charges against him in a fraud case of N110.4 billion led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a ruling made on Monday, Justice Maryanne Anenih said the court has the power to hear the case. She disagreed with Bello’s claim that the legal process was an abuse of court.
This ruling allows the trial to continue in Charge No. FCT/CR/778/2024. Bello is facing charges along with two others, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
Bello's lawyer, J.B. Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the 16-count charge. He argued that the alleged crimes did not fall under the FCT High Court’s authority. He also claimed that there is another related case at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In response, EFCC lawyer Kemi Pinheiro, who is also a SAN, argued against the application. He said the charges are based on the Penal Code and were rightly brought before the FCT High Court.
Pinheiro added that the properties involved were allegedly bought with money from the crimes and are in Abuja, which gives the court the right to hear the case. He also noted that the two cases are about different crimes and different people.
The EFCC pointed out that the FCT High Court case is about criminal breach of trust and conspiracy. The matter at the Federal High Court is focused on alleged money laundering.
Justice Anenih sided with the EFCC and ruled that the trial should move forward. She also rejected a similar request from the third defendant.
After the ruling, the court ordered the prosecution to continue and bring in its 16th witness.
Bello is currently dealing with two different criminal trials linked to claims of financial wrongdoing during his time as governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja, the EFCC is charging him with 19 counts of laundering N80.2 billion. The agency claims he misused funds meant for Kogi State and local councils to buy luxury properties in Abuja and Dubai.
Bello has said he is not guilty of these accusations.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that several witnesses for the prosecution have already testified in the money laundering case. On 7 May, a witness named Shehu Bello told the court that Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed Ododo and a nephew of the former governor, paid millions of naira in cash for building a property in Maitama, Abuja.
He also spoke about other properties linked to the case. The next day, another witness, Ramalan Abdullahi, a lawyer with the Federal Capital Development Authority, said he prepared documents for a property at No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Abdullahi said he worked with people involved in the deal but did not get direct instructions from any of the defendants.
The EFCC claims some properties were bought with money from illegal activities.
This recent court decision comes just weeks after Bello won the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Kogi Central District for the 2027 elections.
Bello is set to compete against the current senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This election is expected to be closely watched.
The former governor has repeatedly denied all claims against him and says the cases are politically driven. The EFCC had declared him wanted in April 2024 amid issues around his arrest and trial. He later showed up in court and pleaded not guilty.
With the dismissal of his latest request, attention will now shift to the ongoing testimonies from prosecution witnesses in the fraud case.
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