Court Dismisses Yahaya Bello’s Jurisdiction Challenge In N110.4Bn Fraud Trial
By Sunday Etuka
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, FCT High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, dismissed an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the N110.4 billion alleged fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bello, standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge on criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving the sum of N110.4 billion, had asked the court to strike out the case, arguing it lacked territorial jurisdiction and that the proceedings duplicated a separate charge already pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed the motion, telling the court it was designed merely to stall the trial. She argued that the alleged offences fall under the Penal Code and are therefore properly heard by the FCT High Court, particularly since the properties at the centre of the case are all located in Abuja.
He also distinguished the two cases, noting they involve different laws, different defendants, and different legal questions.
Justice Maryanne Anenih sided with the prosecution, ruling that the court had jurisdiction and that the case did not amount to an abuse of process. She dismissed both Bello’s application and a similar one filed by the third defendant, calling it equally unmeritorious.
With the jurisdictional questions resolved, the court ordered the trial to proceed, and the prosecution called its 16th and 17th witnesses. Baba Isah Usman Baffa testified about the sale of a shop at Sheriff Plaza to Ali Belllo for N66 million, while estate agent, Shehu Bello detailed a string of property purchases linked to Ali Bello and Faruk Bello across Abuja, including deals at Guzape District, Wuse Zone 7, Maitama, and Durban Street running into hundreds of millions of naira, one of which he said was settled in cash in US Dollars.
A bid by defence counsel, P.B. Daudu, SAN, to adjoin proceedings after the second witness’ testimony was rejected by the prosecution, which argued the witness had spent barely 20 minutes on the stand. Justice Anenih adjourned the case to June 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
