The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court John Tsoho has directed that the request by a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya 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.
The Chief Judge drew the attention of the former governor’s counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammed, and Musa Yakubu to a pending appeal in the case filed by Yahaya Bello against the federal government wherein he sought for a consequential order remitting the case to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
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Justice Tsoho said the fill of the charge could either be in Abuja or Lokoja having noted that the main offence alleged bordered on conversion of Kogi State funds to purchase property in Abuja.
He also referred to two ongoing cases before the Federal high court where a similar request for transfer was made and the lower court refused the application.
Yahaya Bello Instead of appearing in court for his arraignment he requested for the transfer of his N80 billion fraud trial to the federal high court’s kogi division .
However, commission has not been able to bring Yahaya Bello to court in five sittings.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
