Court Dismisses Yahaya Bello's Jurisdiction Challenge in Fraud Case

On Tuesday, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, dismissed an application filed by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, which challenged the court's jurisdiction to entertain a case involving alleged fraud amounting to N110.4 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu and Abdulsalami Hudu on 16 counts related to criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

Bello's application sought to strike the charges on the grounds that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter. However, prosecuting counsel Kemi Pinheiro argued that the application was misconceived and designed solely to delay the trial.

Justice Maryann Anenih upheld the prosecution's submission, affirming the court's necessary jurisdiction to entertain the charges. The court ruled that proceeding with the trial did not amount to an abuse of court process and subsequently dismissed Bello's application for lack of merit.

The trial is set to continue with the prosecution calling its 16th witness, Baba Isah Usman Baffa, and the matter has been adjourned until June 17, 2026.