The Chief Choose of the Federal Excessive Court docket has directed that the request by the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, for the switch of the alleged cash laundering case instituted in opposition to him by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) to Kogi State be offered in open court docket.
In a letter addressed to Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN, and Musa Yakubu, SAN, the Chief Choose drew the eye of the previous governor’s counsels to a pending enchantment within the case: Yahaya Adoza Bello Vs FRN whereby the defendant had sought a consequential order remitting the case to the Chief Choose for reassignment.
The letter, signed by Particular Assistant to the CJ, Joshua Ibrahim Aji, Esq, stated on account of this, it will be improper to take any step that might be tantamount to pre-empting the end result of the enchantment earlier than the Appellate Court docket.
“There’s documentary proof of a pending enchantment within the case Yahaya Adoza Bello Vs FRN filed on 17/05/2024 whereby the defendant as Appellant has sought a consequential order remitting the case to the Chief Choose for reassignment. It isn’t correct to take any step that may tantamount to pre-empting the end result of the Attraction.
“The principle problem raised is jurisdictional in nature and might be extra appropriately determined by the court docket. The matter ought to subsequently be offered in open court docket,” the CJ acknowledged.
The Chief Choose famous that the principle offence alleged bordered on conversion of Kogi State funds to buy properties in Abuja, and that the submitting of the cost might both be in Abuja or Lokoja.
He referred to 2 ongoing circumstances earlier than the FHC in cost No FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 FRN Vs Ali Bello and one other, and one other cost, FRN Vs Ali Bello and three others, the place an identical request for switch was made and the decrease court docket refused the applying.
