The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, challenging the court's jurisdiction to hear the N110.4 billion fraud allegation brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Details of the Court's Decision
The anti-graft agency disclosed the court's action in a statement on its social media page. The former governor is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge involving money laundering of N110.4 billion and criminal breach of trust.
Prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the application was misconceived and intended solely to delay the trial. He stated that the offences charged are under the Penal Code and are properly triable before the High Court of the FCT.
Territorial Jurisdiction Established
Pinheiro further submitted that the properties allegedly acquired with the proceeds of the offences, which form the basis of the charge, are all located within Abuja. This, he argued, vests the court with the requisite territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The EFCC shared the full statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) page. This development marks another step in the legal proceedings against the former governor and his co-defendants.
