The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is currently facing a 19-count charge and has written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting that a transfer of his case to Kogi. In his letter, which was penned by his legal team led by Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, Bello contended that the Lokoja Division of the high court is the only jurisdiction competent to handle the allegations against him brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During a recent hearing, Bello did not appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to respond to the charges. Representing him, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, informed the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, about the letter to the Chief Judge. Adedipe explained that following the previous court session, he informed Bello’s legal team of the developments, leading to the drafting of the letter to request the case transfer to Lokoja, where they believe jurisdiction lies.
Adedipe further detailed that the letter was acknowledged by the Chief Judge’s Chambers and that the prosecution, led by Mr. Iseoluwa Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, was notified on June 13 to respond to this transfer request. However, as of the latest court session, there was no indication of any response from the prosecution, nor a decision from the Chief Judge on the transfer request. Adedipe underscored his primary duty to the court and refrained from making any specific requests at that moment, merely presenting the current facts.
Conversely, the EFCC, represented by Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, urged the court to compel Bello’s defense to explain his absence, emphasizing an earlier commitment by Bello’s lawyers to ensure his presence. Pinhero criticized the defense’s explanation as a tactic to delay proceedings and argued that the letter to the Chief Judge did not nullify the lawyers’ prior commitments. He pointed out that even if a complaint is made against a judge, it should not halt ongoing cases. Pinhero requested the court to consider summoning the senior lawyers to explain their conduct and potentially hold them accountable for contempt.
Bello, who governed Kogi State for eight years, is accused of involvement in money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of approximately N80.2 billion in public funds. The EFCC’s charges also implicate Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, along with Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu. Despite previous failures to appear in court, Bello instructed his lawyers to challenge an arrest warrant issued on April 17 and contest the court’s jurisdiction. He argued that the EFCC violated a standing judgment from a Kogi State High Court by filing charges and seeking his arrest.
Although the court refused to lift the arrest warrant on May 10, it allowed Bello the opportunity to appear voluntarily for arraignment.
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