By Precious Mark
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by Yahaya Adoza Bello, the former Kogi State Governor, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the N110.4 billion alleged fraud case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello is facing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving N110.4 billion.
The development was disclosed by the EFCC in a statement posted on Tuesday, following proceedings before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court.
Bello had asked the court to strike out the charge marked FCT/CR/778/2024, arguing that the FCT High Court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
He also contended that the case amounted to an abuse of court process because a related charge is already pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, Kemi Pinheiro, counsel to the EFCC, opposed the application, describing it as misconceived and intended to delay the trial.
According to him, the offences contained in the charge are based on provisions of the Penal Code and are therefore properly triable before the FCT High Court.
Pinheiro further told the court that the properties allegedly acquired with proceeds of the offences are located in Abuja, giving the court the territorial jurisdiction required to hear the case.
On the issue of alleged abuse of court process, the senior advocate argued that the case before the FCT High Court is different from the one before the Federal High Court.
He explained that while the FCT High Court matter centres on allegations of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy under the Penal Code, the Federal High Court case relates to alleged violations of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
“The two cases differ both in substance and in law and, therefore, cannot constitute an abuse of court process,” the prosecution maintained.
In her ruling, Justice Anenih agreed with the prosecution and held that the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the charge.
The judge also ruled that the proceedings do not amount to an abuse of court process and consequently dismissed Bello’s application for lacking merit.
Justice Anenih similarly dismissed a related application filed by the third defendant, describing it as unmeritorious.
Following the ruling, the court directed that the trial should continue and the prosecution called its 16th witness, Baba Isah Usman Baffa.
While giving evidence, Baffa told the court that he is familiar with Sherrif Plaza, a commercial shopping complex in Abuja comprising 276 shops.
He testified that Ali Bello approached his company to purchase a shop in the plaza.
“He came to our office, made enquiries about the shops and indicated interest in buying one. We gave him the prospective form and the requirements. He met the requirements, we gave him an account number and he made the payment,” the witness said.
Baffa further disclosed that Ali Bello purchased Shop B13 for N66 million, stating that an initial payment of N40 million was made into the company’s FCMB account, while the remaining N26 million was paid later.
The case was subsequently adjourned for the continuation of trial.