The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, presided over by Justice Maryann Anenih, has dismissed an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, seeking to strike out the charge brought against him in Charge No. FCT/CR/778/2024: FRN v. Yahaya Adoza Bello & 2 Ors.

Bello, through his lead counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, and a team of senior advocates, urged the court to strike out the 16-count charge on the grounds that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

He also argued that the charge constituted an abuse of court process due to the pendency of a related case, Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, before the Federal High Court.

Opposing the application, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the application was misconceived and designed to unnecessarily delay the proceedings.

Pinheiro contended that the offences contained in the charge were based on provisions of the Penal Code and were, therefore, properly triable before the High Court of the FCT.

He further argued that the properties allegedly acquired with the proceeds of the offences, which form the basis of the charge, are located in Abuja, thereby conferring territorial jurisdiction on the court.

On the allegation of abuse of court process, EFCC counsel submitted that the charges before the two courts relate to different offences.

According to him, the case before the FCT High Court concerns allegations of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy under the Penal Code, while the case before the Federal High Court relates to alleged money laundering offences under the Money Laundering Act.

He further argued that the parties involved in the two cases are not the same, noting that Bello is the sole defendant in the Federal High Court case, whereas he is being prosecuted alongside two co-defendants in the FCT High Court matter.

In a ruling delivered on June 16, 2026, Justice Anenih agreed with the submissions of the EFCC and held that the court possesses the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the charge and that the proceedings do not constitute an abuse of court process.

The court subsequently dismissed Bello’s application.

A similar application filed by the third defendant was also dismissed for lacking merit.

Following the ruling, the court directed that the trial should continue, with the prosecution proceeding to call its 16th witness (PW16), who was present in court and ready to testify.

Proceedings in the ongoing corruption trial of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai continued on Monday at the Federal High Court sitting in the state capital.

El-Rufai was brought to the court at about 9:30 a.m., accompanied by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.

The case, brought by the ICPC, involves allegations of abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct during his tenure as governor.

Prosecutors allege that funds were improperly released for projects that were either not executed or were irregularly managed.

El-Rufai has denied all the charges and maintains his innocence.

At yesterday’s sitting, the court is expected to continue hearing motions and arguments from both the prosecution and defence as the case progresses.

On April 14, 2026, the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, granted the former governor bail in the sum of ₦200 million, with conditions including two sureties — one being a serving or retired civil servant in Grade Level 15, and the other a recognised traditional ruler.

While El-Rufai’s lawyers applied to the court for the variation of the bail conditions, a Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Darius Khobo repeatedly denied him bail, citing concerns that his influence could interfere with investigations into serious corruption allegations brought by the ICPC.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Monday, June 15, 2026, dismissed an application filed by counsel to a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside the bench warrant and warrant of arrest issued against her.

Farouq, alongside two others — Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed — is to face prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.

Delivering his ruling on Monday, the judge held that the defendant had willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason, maintaining that the law empowers the court to issue a bench warrant once it is established that a defendant is absent without justification.

“The defendant, who is fully aware that this is a criminal proceeding, has willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason, and the law empowers the court, when it has been ascertained that the defendant is absent without a valid reason, to issue a bench warrant of arrest. There is nothing in the exhibit explaining why the defendant, who has mere arthritis and heart disease, cannot appear before the court. Is it that there are no medical facilities in Nigeria? I am convinced that the 1st defendant is trying to hide behind her fingers by raising bogus excuses. It is important that the applicant be reminded that this is a criminal matter and not a civil one, and there is an approach to its proceedings. By all legal considerations, I am of the opinion that there is no merit in this application. I so hold,” he said.

Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, commended the judge for what he described as a well-considered ruling. He further reminded the court of the undertaking by defence counsel, A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, to produce the first defendant, urging the court to enforce the undertaking.

“My Lord, for a senior counsel to make an undertaking which is reflected in Your Lordship’s ruling, we crave that Your Lordship give effect to that undertaking by A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, to produce the defendant. If you look at the so-called medical report attached, it only requested a period of six to eight weeks, within which the defendant would not be arrested, and the eight weeks expired on June 9, 2026. I plead with Your Lordship that the court should not take the undertaking for granted. On our part, we have decided to give effect to the arrest of the first defendant, and we also ask counsel to the first defendant to cooperate and produce his client at the next adjournment to avoid coercive measures,” he said.

Responding, A.M. Lawal, who stood in for A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, urged the judge to allow Ibrahim to be present in court to respond to the EFCC’s application regarding the undertaking.

Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, stating that Ibrahim should be allowed to appear in court to defend himself on the issue of the undertaking.

The matter was adjourned to July 2, 2026, for arraignment.