- Justice Tsoho, on Monday, upheld the argument of the EFCC that the case should remain in Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application by the embattled Yahaya Bello seeking to transfer his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to Kogi State.
Bello, the immediate past Governor of the middle belt State, lost his bid to transfer the N80.2 billion fraud case from Abuja to his state after Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the trial court, ruled in favour of the EFCC.
Justice Tsoho, on Monday, upheld the argument of the EFCC that the case should remain in Abuja.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds.
Despite denying the allegations, he has refused to appear in court for his arraignment.
His lawyers had applied to transfer the trial to Lokoja, Kogi State.
However, EFCC opposed the move, arguing that the alleged offences were committed partly in Kogi and Abuja, making either state a suitable venue for the trial.
In a letter signed by his Special Assistant, Joshua Ibrahim Aji, the Chief Judge agreed with EFCC, stating that the law permits the filing of the charge in either Abuja or Lokoja.
The judge also noted that two similar criminal charges are already being tried in the Federal High Court, Abuja and that transferring the case would be premature given the pending appeal.
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