The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has turned down ex-Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello’s request to transfer his N80.2bn fraud trial from Abuja to Kogi State.
In a letter dated July 2, the CJ agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the trial should proceed in Abuja, citing the commission’s argument that the alleged fraud was partly committed in both Abuja and Lokoja.
Bello’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), had applied for the transfer on June 10, but the CJ rejected the application, stating that the case should be tried in Abuja, where the alleged fraud was partly committed.
The EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), had opposed Bello’s bid to move the case to Kogi State, insisting that the trial should proceed in Abuja.
The CJ’s decision comes as a significant blow to Bello’s efforts to have the case transferred to Kogi State, where he may have hoped to receive a more favorable hearing.
The trial is set to continue in Abuja, with Bello facing charges of alleged N80.2bn fraud.