The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has declined the request to transfer the ₦80.2bn fraud trial of ex-Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, from Abuja to Kogi State.
In a judgment on Monday, the court directed that the request by Bello, for the transfer of the alleged money laundering case instituted against him, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to Kogi State, be presented in open court.
In a letter addressed to his lawyers, misters Abdul-Wahab Muhammed and Musa Yakubu, the chief judge drew the attention of the former governor’s counsels to a pending appeal in the case: Yahaya Adoza Bello VS FRN wherein the defendant had sought a consequential order remitting the case to the chief judge for reassignment.
The letter, signed by his special assistant, said as a result, it would be improper to take any step tantamount to pre-empting the outcome of the appeal.
The chief judge noted that the main offence alleged bordered on the conversion of Kogi state funds to purchase properties in Abuja, and that the filing of the charge could either be in Abuja or Lokoja.
