Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to transfer his trial in alleged N80.2 billion money laundering suit to Lokoja.
The ex-governor said he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja, being the place the alleged money laundering offence was committed.
At a resumed sitting yesterday, Bello, represented by his counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), informed Justice Emeka Nwite that a letter requesting for the transfer of the trial had been delivered to the Chief Judge for his administrative decision.
Specifically, Adedipe said the transfer request was owing to the fact that the Federal High Court has territorial jurisdiction to hear the matter in Lokoja.
The senior lawyer stated that Bello’s legal team was still awaiting response of the CJ on the request.
“Although the letter requesting for transfer of this matter to Lokoja was written by Yahaya Bello’s lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), I am, however, under obligation to draw the attention of this honourable court to the issue,” he said.
Adedipe said the prosecution had been notified and their opinion sought via a letter dated June 14, 2024, from the CJ’s office.
The correspondence, addressed to EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), was signed by the Special Assistant to the Chief Judge, Joshua Ibrahim Aji.
However, the request was opposed by EFCC’s lead counsel, Dr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), who described the application as an attempt to frustrate the trial.
He urged Justice Nwite to hold Adedipe and Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN) responsible for their inability to produce their client in court, despite the undertakings they made.
Pinheiro also requested that the two SANs be put for contempt of court.
The court, subsequently, fixed July 17 for arraignment of the ex-governor and ruling on EFCC’s request to cite the senior lawyers for contempt.
