The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has directed that the request by the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to transfer the alleged money laundering case against him, instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to Kogi State must be presented in open court, as reported by LEADERSHIP.
In a letter addressed to Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN, and Musa Yakubu, SAN, the Chief Judge highlighted a pending appeal in the case of Yahaya Adoza Bello vs. FRN, where the defendant had sought a consequential order for the case to be reassigned by the Chief Judge.
The letter, signed by Special Assistant to the Chief Judge, Joshua Ibrahim Aji, Esq, emphasized that taking any steps before the appeal’s resolution could pre-empt its outcome.
“There is documentary evidence of a pending appeal in the case Yahaya Adoza Bello Vs FRN filed on 17/05/2024 wherein the defendant as Appellant has sought a consequential order remitting the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment. It is not proper to take any step that will tantamount to pre-empting the outcome of the Appeal.
“The main issue raised is jurisdictional in nature and will be more appropriately decided by the court. The matter should therefore be presented in open court,” the CJ stated.
The Chief Judge also mentioned that the main offence alleged involved the conversion of Kogi State funds to purchase properties in Abuja, and the charge could be filed either in Abuja or Lokoja. He referenced two ongoing cases before the Federal High Court: charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 FRN vs. Ali Bello and another, and another charge, FRN vs. Ali Bello and three others, where a similar transfer request was denied by the lower court…..Seë_Morë