In a tense courtroom battle, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s trial for alleged money laundering took a dramatic turn on Friday as his legal team clashed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel over the cross-examination of a key witness.
Bello faces 19 charges of money laundering totaling N80.2 billion. During the trial, the EFCC sought to cross-examine Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School Abuja, regarding a document from a previous civil case involving Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello.
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro argued that the document was critical for the case, stating, “Fair hearing demands that the complainant, too has the right to examine this document.”
However, Joseph Daudu, the defense counsel, vehemently objected. He insisted, “If you want to cross-examine your own witness, you must first declare them hostile.”
The dispute centered around whether the EFCC could cross-examine its own witness without declaring hostility first, a procedural move that Daudu claimed was crucial.
“You cannot cross-examine them based on this document without doing so,” he argued. Pinheiro, however, countered by referencing the constitutional right to fair hearing.
Despite the clash, Justice Emeka Nwite allowed the prosecution to proceed with a re-examination but cautioned that it must not resemble a cross-examination.
The judge called for both parties to present further arguments on the issue and adjourned the case to June 26, 27, and July 4, 5 for further proceedings.
