Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has questioned Justice James Omotosho’s decision to recuse himself from the ₦10.27 billion money laundering trial involving Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman, comparing the development with the judge’s handling of Nnamdi Kanu’s case.
Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja withdrew from the trial on Thursday, September 24, 2026, following concerns over alleged tampering with a mobile phone admitted as evidence. The judge returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
Bello, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo and a nephew of former governor Yahaya Bello, and Sulaiman are facing EFCC charges. They have denied the allegations.
Why Justice Omotosho Recused Himself
The recusal followed an earlier disclosure involving court registrar Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu, who allegedly admitted that WhatsApp messages had been deleted from a phone tendered as an exhibit.
Reports of the court proceedings said the registrar told the court in February that Sulaiman had allegedly asked him to delete messages and promised him a house. An EFCC investigator later said messages covering periods between 2020 and 2022 were missing from the exhibit.
Justice Omotosho had directed the police and Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the alleged tampering. At the latest hearing, he said the investigation report had not been made available to the court and withdrew from the case. Reports on the judge’s decision said he considered recusal appropriate in view of the unresolved investigation.
VeryDarkMan Compares Ali Bello and Nnamdi Kanu Cases
Reacting online, VeryDarkMan questioned the difference between the judge’s decision in the Ali Bello trial and his handling of Kanu’s case. In a reaction circulating online, he asked: “Where is the law, just like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said?”
Justice Omotosho convicted Kanu in November 2025 on terrorism charges. Channels Television reported the conviction after the Federal High Court found him guilty on all seven counts.
The comparison prompted debate on X about judicial recusal and the handling of politically sensitive cases. Some users said recusal can help protect impartiality when a judge’s continued involvement could raise concerns, while others criticised the judge’s past decisions or questioned the consistency of judicial treatment.
Recusal Does Not Decide the Charges
Justice Omotosho’s recusal does not determine whether Bello or Sulaiman is guilty or innocent. Alleged evidence tampering remains subject to investigation, while the money laundering charges remain allegations.
The case will be reassigned by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. Follow The Trumpet on X for updates.
