Yahaya Bello: Court turns down EFCC’s attempt to re-examine own witness

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to re-examine one of its own witnesses in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the matter, ruled on Thursday that under existing legal procedures, the prosecution could not re-examine its own witness unless that witness had been formally declared hostile.

He stated that the re-examination must remain within the scope of the previously admitted evidence.

The judge said, “This court cannot allow the prosecution to cross-examine its own witness unless the appropriate legal process has been followed. Re-examination is permitted only within the confines of Exhibit 19, specifically on pages 1, 14, and 15.”

Earlier during the hearing, EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, described the case as political in nature, referring to the high-profile status of the defendant.

“We’re not dealing with an ordinary individual. This is someone who had once sought to run for the presidency,” he said. The judge replied pointedly, “If that’s the case, those handling political cases might need to take over.”

The EFCC’s third witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor with the American International School in Abuja, testified that there was no record of school fees being paid by the Kogi State Government or its local governments.

He also read out part of a prior judgment that stated no directive was given for a refund of funds to the EFCC or that the money in question was legally deemed as illicit proceeds.

Another witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a Zenith Bank compliance officer, testified regarding the financial documents submitted to the court.

He confirmed that identification certificates were attached to each account statement submitted for the Kogi State Government House and related accounts, which the court accepted as exhibits.

Bata further explained that, before the introduction of Nigeria’s cashless policy, the maximum allowed cash withdrawal by government entities per cheque was ₦10 million.

He identified a withdrawal made on May 23, 2016, under the name Abdulsalami Hudu, as compliant with the regulation.

He also pointed out multiple transactions that day and subsequent inflows amounting to about ₦1.092 billion, with cumulative withdrawals totaling approximately ₦1.968 billion.

The case was adjourned to Friday, June 27, for cross-examination of the witness by Bello’s legal team.