A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed an application filed by former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the N110.4 billion alleged fraud.
The charge was preferred against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello is being prosecuted alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving the sum of N110.4 billion.
The application, filed by Bello, sought an order to strike out the charge on the grounds that the FCT High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter.
But opposing the application, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, argued that the application was misconceived and designed solely to delay the trial.
According to Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the offences charged are offences under the Penal Code and are therefore properly triable before the High Court of the FCT.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Maryanne Anenih, the court upheld the submissions of the prosecution and held that it had the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the charge.
The court further ruled that the proceedings before it do not amount to an abuse of court process and consequently dismissed Bello’s application for lacking merit.
Following the dismissal of the applications, the court directed that the trial should continue and the prosecution proceeded to call its 16th witness, Baba Isah Usman Baffa.
Justice Anenih adjourned the matter till June 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
