The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, seeking to strike out the ₦110bn fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
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Justice Annenih delivered the ruling on June 16, 2026, in charge number FCT/CR/778/2024: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Yahaya Adoza Bello & 2 Ors, holding that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case.
Bello, through his lead counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, and a team of senior advocates, had asked the court to strike out the 16-count charge on the ground that the FCT High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
He also argued that the charge amounted to an abuse of court process because of the pendency of a related case, charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, before the Federal High Court.
Opposing the application, counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that Bello’s application was misconceived and calculated to delay the trial.
Pinheiro submitted that the offences in the charge were founded 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 proceeds of the alleged offences, which form the basis of the charge, are located in Abuja, thereby giving the FCT High Court territorial jurisdiction over the matter.
On the allegation of abuse of court process, the EFCC’s counsel maintained that the two cases before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court 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.
Pinheiro also argued that the parties in the two cases are not the same, noting that Bello is the sole defendant in the Federal High Court case, while he is being prosecuted alongside two co-defendants in the FCT High Court matter.
In his ruling, Justice Annenih agreed with the submissions of the EFCC and held that the FCT High Court has the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the charge.
The court also held that the proceedings did not amount to an abuse of court process.
Consequently, Justice Annenih dismissed Bello’s application for lacking merit.
The court also dismissed a similar application filed by the third defendant.
Following the ruling, the court ordered that the trial should continue, with the prosecution directed to call its 16th witness, who was already present in court and ready to testify.
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