A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, threw out an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, contesting the court’s authority to hear the alleged N110.4 billion fraud case against him.
The case was instituted against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge involving alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to N110.4 billion.
In the application, Bello asked the court to strike out the charge, arguing that the FCT High Court lacked the territorial jurisdiction required to adjudicate on the matter.
Responding to the application, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, maintained that the request was misguided and intended only to stall the proceedings.
Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, submitted that the offences contained in the charge were brought under the Penal Code and were therefore within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.
In her ruling, Justice Maryanne Anenih agreed with the arguments advanced by the prosecution and held that the court possessed the requisite jurisdiction to hear the case.
The judge also ruled that the proceedings did not constitute an abuse of court process and subsequently dismissed Bello’s application for lacking merit.
After the applications were dismissed, the court ordered that the trial should proceed, following which the prosecution called its 16th witness, Baba Isah Usman Baffa.
Justice Anenih adjourned the matter until June 17, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
