A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 26 for ruling in the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to cross-examine its witness, Nicholas Ojehomon in the alleged money laundering case instituted against a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Justice Emeka Nwite, on Friday ruled on the adjournment after listening to arguments by the EFCC and Yahaya Bello on the propriety of the prosecution cross-examining its witness after the cross-examination by Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN).
Daudu had objected to the procedural mode of cross-examining the witness after cross-examination by the defence rather than a re-examination, except that the prosecution declared the witness hostile.
When the matter was called for continuation of cross-examination, the defendant’s counsel asked the witness, Ojehomon, whether he had testified in other courts with respect to the issue of school fees paid by the Bello family to the American International School in Abuja; he said yes.
However, the witness, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja, said he could not mention the exact courts.
He admitted testifying in a similar charge involving Ali Bello, but added that he never said anything adversely against former Governor Yahaya Bello, just as he had not said anything negative or adversely against him in the instant charge.
After the cross-examination of the witness, the EFCC’s lawyer, Olukayode Enitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), moved to also cross-examine the same witness on Exhibit 19, a judgement copy of the FCT High Court.
He told the court that he was not re-examining the EFCC’s witness but cross-examining him because the document was admitted in evidence from the bar during cross-examination by the defence.
After taking arguments for and against the request, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to June 26, 27 and July 4 and 5 for ruling and continuation of trial