Court faults Yahaya Bello’s request for transfer of trial to Lokoja

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, has faulted former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s application for transfer of his money laundering trial from Abuja to the Lokoja division of the court.

In a letter dated 2 July, the Chief Judge gave reasons why the trial cannot be transferred to Lokoja.

Citing a pending appeal regarding the request for the transfer, Mr Tsoho said it is improper to preempt the decision of the Court of Appeal.

The Chief Judge said he had reviewed the arguments of both the defence and the prosecution in support of and against the request to come to his conclusion.

He maintained that the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC was right to file the case in the Abuja division of the court.

“The main complaint in the case borders on alleged conversion and transfer of funds of Kogi State to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to purchase property through acts of concealment,” the letter signed by Special Assistant to the Chief Judge, Joshua Ibrahim-Aji, read in part.

The letter noted that the law permits filing the charge either in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – Abuja, or Lokoja, “the offence(s) having been allegedly partly committed in both places.”

 In a  letter addressed to defence lawyers – Abdulwahab Muhammed and Musa Yakubu, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), the Chief Judge pointed out the prosecution’s key arguments in support of filing the case in the FCT, Abuja.

The ruling has not been set aside and cannot be reversed by administrative fiat,” the letter added.

It also pointed out the need to wait for the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja concerning the request.

“There is documentary evidence of a pending appeal in Yahaya Adoza Bello v. F. R. N. filed on 17/05/2024, wherein the Defendant as Appellant has sought a consequential order remitting the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment,” the letter read.

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

Bello, has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Abuja, Justice John Tsoho, to transfer his trial of alleged money laundering to Lokoja.

He said that he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja, being the place the alleged money laundering offence was committed.