Yahaya Bello:Court Rejects EFCC’s Request To ‘Cross-examine’ Own Witness

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has rejected a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ‘cross-examine’ its third witness in the ongoing trial of alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

While delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite noted that there was no provision in law that permits the court to allow the prosecution to re-examine its witness in the manner proposed by the anti-graft agency.

This was just as the EFCC lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, during the proceedings, described the case instituted against the former governor as a political case after arguments were being raised on whether the defence counsel would cross-examine the 4th witness or wait till the next day.

Responding, the judge said, “Political? If that is the case, then those handling political cases should prepare to take over the matter.”

“The argument of the learned counsel to the prosecution is misconceived.This honourable court is not shutting the prosecution from re-examining the witness, but must restrict itself to pages 1, 14 and 15 of Exhibit 19 where issues were addressed by the defense.

Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja, had, at the last hearing, said there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state to the account of the American school.

During examination, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank also confirmed that certificates of identification were attached to the statements of accounts provided by the bank in the seven sets of documents presented, as requested in a subpoena.

The court, thereafter, admitted the statements of account of Kogi State Government House Administration and six others, as exhibits.

The witness, on subpoena, narrated to the court, the withdrawal limits allowed for individuals, corporate organisations and government, saying that before the cashless policy, it was pegged at N10 million for government and N500, 000 for individuals.

When the witness was asked to explain the transaction, he said, “It is a cash withdrawal of N10 million in accordance with the then maximum threshold allowed for cheque withdrawal per transaction.”

He, however, said he had nine cash transactions on the same date and the witness was then told to go to the credit transactions of 30th January, 2018, and he confirmed that there were 10 separate credits of various sums, totalling about N1.092bn.

The witness aggregated the total amount of withdrawals to N1.968 billion, saying they were on different dates, hence reading out the inflow and outflow between the 2nd of May 2018 and 19th May, 2018.

After the examination by the prosecution, the judge adjourned to tomorrow, June 27, for cross-examination by the Defendant’s Counsel.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji