Court Clears Path for Bello’s N110bn Fraud Trial to Continue

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, presided over by Justice Maryann E. Anenih, on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, seeking to strike out the charge brought against him in Charge No.

FCT/CR/778/2024: FRN v. Yahaya Adoza Bello & 2 Ors.
Bello, through his lead counsel, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, and a team of senior advocates, had asked the court to strike out the 16-count charge, arguing that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter.
He also contended that the charge amounted to an abuse of court process because of the existence of a related case, Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, currently before the Federal High Court.
Opposing the application, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, maintained that the application was misconceived and intended to unnecessarily delay the proceedings.
Pinheiro argued that the offences contained in the charge were based on provisions of the Penal Code and were therefore properly triable before the High Court of the FCT.
He further submitted that the properties allegedly acquired from the proceeds of the offences, which form the basis of the charge, are located in Abuja, thereby giving the court territorial jurisdiction over the matter.
On the allegation of abuse of court process, the EFCC counsel stated that the charges before the two courts relate to separate offences.
According to him, the case before the FCT High Court concerns allegations of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy under the Penal Code, while the case before the Federal High Court involves alleged money laundering offences under the Money Laundering Act.
He also pointed out that the parties in both matters are different, noting that Bello is the sole defendant in the Federal High Court case, whereas he is standing trial alongside two co-defendants in the FCT High Court case.
In a ruling delivered on June 16, 2026, Justice Anenih agreed with the submissions of the EFCC and held that the court possesses the jurisdiction to entertain the charge and that the proceedings do not amount to an abuse of court process.
The court consequently dismissed Bello’s application. A similar application filed by the third defendant was also dismissed for lacking merit.
Following the ruling, the court ordered that the trial should continue, directing the prosecution to proceed with its 16th witness (PW16), who was present in court and ready to testify.