Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, was notably absent for his scheduled arraignment and plea bargain at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. Instead, his legal team presented a letter to the court, asserting that he preferred to be tried in Kogi State.
The letter, submitted by Bello’s lawyers led by Abdulwahab Mohammed, argued that only the Kogi High Court in Lokoja had the territorial jurisdiction to preside over the allegations leveled against him. Adeola Adedipe, one of Bello’s lawyers, informed the court about the contents of the letter during proceedings.
Adedipe explained that after the previous court session, he relayed the developments to the legal team, who had subsequently written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. The letter requested the administrative transfer of the case to the Federal High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division, where they believed the matter should be handled. Adedipe noted that they had notified the prosecution team about this administrative step on June 13, requesting their response, but had not yet received a reply from them or a decision from the Chief Judge’s office.
In response, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinhero, raised objections, stating that Bello’s absence violated an undertaking made on June 13 to ensure his presence in court. Pinhero argued that the letter to the Chief Judge did not excuse this breach of commitment. She urged the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, to summon Bello’s legal team to explain why they should not be held in contempt for their conduct.
Pinhero dismissed the defense’s submissions as dilatory tactics aimed at undermining the court’s authority. The charges against Bello, which include money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totaling approximately N80.2 billion, were brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court session highlighted the contentious jurisdictional issue and the legal maneuvering surrounding the high-profile case against the former governor.
