I Want to be Tried in Kogi, Not Abuja – Yahaya Bello Tells Court
Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, has requested that his pending 19-count case be transferred from the Federal High Court in Abuja to Kogi State.
Bello’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, made the submission during a court session on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Bello, who was Governor of the North Central State for eight years between 2016 to 2024, is being accused of multiple charges from money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N80.2billion.
Adedipe argued that since the alleged offense occurred in Kogi, it is only proper for the case to be tried there. He brought the court’s attention to a letter sent to John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking the transfer of the case to Kogi.
“My lord, after the proceedings of the last adjourned date, I went back and gave a report of what happened in court to our team,” Adedipe said.
He added, “However, I was made to understand that a letter had been written on behalf of the defendant to the honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court requesting, in substance, that this matter be administratively transferred to the Federal High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division, which we believe has territorial jurisdiction to handle this matter.”
Adedipe informed the court that the Chief Judge’s chambers had received the letter and had notified the prosecution team, led by Iseoluwa Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on June 13, requesting a response to the transfer request.
“My lord, as of this morning, I am not aware whether there has been a response by the prosecution team in compliance with the directive of the CJ,” Adedipe continued. “We are also not in receipt of any decision that has been made on this request by the CJ. I am also aware that this administrative directive of the CJ has been formally communicated to this court.”
Adedipe stated that they had filed an affidavit attaching two documents referencing the details he highlighted.
“My duty is first to the court. As of the moment, I am not urging anything from the court, but just to present the facts as they were,” he concluded.
