Court dismisses Yahaya Bello’s bid to quash N110bn fraud charge

The high court of the federal capital territory, (FCT), Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, seeking to quash the N110 billion fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello, through his counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, had urged the court to strike out the charge in Suit No. FCT/CR/778/2024, arguing that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

He further contended that the case amounted to an abuse of court process, citing the pendency of a related proceeding before the federal high court in Abuja.

Opposing the application, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) argued that the application was misconceived and designed to delay the proceedings unnecessarily.

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

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

According to him, 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 further argued that the parties involved in the two cases are not the same, noting that 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.

In a ruling delivered on June 16, 2026, Justice Annenih agreed with the submissions of the EFCC and held that the court 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, with the prosecution proceeding to call its 16th witness (PW16), who was present in court and ready to testify.