Bello Vs EFCC: CJ directs Bello to present transfer request to court

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has directed that the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello’s request for the transfer of the alleged money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Kogi State be presented in open court.

In a letter addressed to defence lawyers, Abdulwahab Muhammed (SAN) and Musa Yakubu (SAN), the Chief Judge drew the attention of the former governor’s counsels to a pending appeal in the case: Yahaya Adoza Bello Vs FRN wherein the defendant had sought a consequential order remitting the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment.

In the letter signed by his Special Assistant, Joshua Ibrahim AJI Esq, the CJ said due to the pending appeal, it would be improper to take any step that would be tantamount to pre-empting its outcome.

“There is documentary evidence of a pending appeal in the case Yahaya Adoza Bello Vs FRN filed on 17/05/2024 wherein the defendant as appellant has sought a consequential order remitting the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment,” he wrote.

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“It is not proper to take any step that will be tantamount to pre-empting the outcome of the appeal.

“The main issue raised is jurisdictional in nature and will be more appropriately decided by the court. The matter should therefore be presented in open court,” the CJ stated.

The Chief Judge noted that the main offence alleged bordered on conversion of Kogi State funds to purchase properties in Abuja, and that the filing of the charge could either be in Abuja or Lokoja.

He referred to two ongoing cases before the FHC in charge No FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 FRN Vs Ali Bello and another, and another charge, FRN Vs Ali Bello and 3 others, where a similar request for transfer was made and the lower court refused the application.

Bello, who is facing 19-count charges bordering on money laundering, had on June 14 written the CJ seeking a transfer of the case to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.