Federal High Court Chief Judge, John Tsoho, has denied former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello's request to transfer his money laundering trial from Abuja to Lokoja. The former governor, facing an N8.2 billion laundering charge by the EFCC, argued that the trial should be held in Kogi State, where the funds allegedly belonged.
Justice Tsoho directed Bello to present his request to the trial judge, noting that it would be inappropriate to preempt an ongoing appeal on a similar issue before the Court of Appeal. He emphasized that the alleged offences occurred in both Abuja and Lokoja, making the current venue legally permissible.
Bello's lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN), had cited previous judicial authorities to support the transfer, but Tsoho highlighted that similar requests in related cases had been denied by the court. The Chief Judge stressed that jurisdictional issues are best decided in open court.
