JUST IN: Court Dismisses Yaya Bello’s Application To Quash N110bn Fraud Charge, Orders Trial To Proceed

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, presided over by Justice Annenih, has 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 Others.

Bello, through his lead counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, and a team of senior advocates, had urged the court to strike out the 16-count charge.

He argued that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter and that the charge constituted an abuse of court process due to the pendency of a related case, Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, before the Federal High Court.

EFCC’s response

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the application.

He argued that the application was misconceived and could cause unnecessary delay.

Pinheiro contended that the offences in the charge are based on provisions of the Penal Code and are therefore properly triable before the High Court of the FCT.

He further argued that the properties allegedly acquired with proceeds of the offences, which form the basis of the charge, are located in Abuja.

According to him, this confers territorial jurisdiction on the court.

On the allegation of abuse of court process, the EFCC’s counsel submitted that the charges before the two courts relate to different offences.

He stated that 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 relates to alleged money laundering offences under the Money Laundering Act.

He also argued that the parties in the two cases are not the same. Bello is the sole defendant in the Federal High Court case, whereas he is being prosecuted alongside two co-defendants in the FCT High Court matter, Pinheiro said.

Court ruling

In a ruling delivered on June 16, 2026, Justice Annenih agreed with the submissions of the EFCC.

The court held that it possesses the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the charge and that the proceedings do not constitute an abuse of court process.

The court subsequently dismissed Bello’s application.

A similar application filed by the third defendant was also dismissed for lacking merit.

Following the ruling, the court directed that the trial should continue.

The prosecution was ordered to proceed to call its 16th witness, who was present in court and ready to testify.

The case continues before the FCT High Court, Abuja.