Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Friday urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to release his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for a medical check-up.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Bello for allegedly laundering ₦80.2 billion.
During the rescheduled hearing, the defendant’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), filed an application for the retrieval of Bello’s travel documents, citing the defendant’s medical need.
However, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that they are contesting the application and have submitted a counter-affidavit to that effect.
He claimed that the application was technically incompetent and that a similar application had already been filed in the FCT High Court, describing it as an abuse of the court process.
In response, Daudu claimed that the prosecution was guilty of manipulating court processes.
He said, “We were served with the counter-affidavit yesterday, and overnight, we filed a further affidavit addressing the complainant’s counter-affidavit, supported by two exhibits.
“My Lord, the substance of this application is the release of my client’s international passport in accordance with the bail conditions, which require court approval for travel. He has pressing medical needs to attend to during the court’s vacation period. After eight years without travelling, he needs to address specific aspects of his health,” Daudu added.
Meanwhile, the EFCC’s fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer at Zenith Bank, denied being harassed by Bello’s security guards.
The EFCC had observed that one of the defendant’s security details was harassing the witness.
However, Daudu questioned the report, stating that he had always known his client to be a peaceful man.
He then assured the court that he would investigate the allegations and report back properly.
The judge urged the defendant’s lawyers to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
However, near the end of cross-examination, the witness asked the court for permission to address a prior claim.
Bata reiterated that he had not been harassed, despite the EFCC’s charges.
“My Lord, I wish to clarify the matter raised earlier before the commencement of proceedings. I was not harassed by any of the security details attached to the defendant. I was not harassed at all, and I felt the need to clarify this, my lord,” Bata stated.
The defence team also brought the judge’s attention to a report on the EFCC’s website that said the witness had been harassed.
He also claimed the EFCC distorted the facts of the previous day’s court proceedings. In response, Pinheiro told the court that he would alert the EFCC of the defence’s concerns.
Under further cross-examination by Daudu, Bata acknowledged that Bello was not a signatory to or beneficiary of any transactions in the accounts given as evidence.
He stated that Exhibit 22A, from pages 24 to 413, did not list Yahaya Bello as a beneficiary of any transaction.
The witness stated, “From the documents presented, there is no mention of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, as a signatory or beneficiary in any transaction.”
The compliance officer also indicated the signatories to the accounts controlled by the Kogi State Government House Administration and confirmed letters introducing those who replaced several important officers along the way.
The prosecution objected to some of the defence’s questions, arguing that the witness should limit his evidence to the materials presented, claiming, “The witness is not an expert in law.”
However, Justice Nwite stated, “The witness, as an expert, knows what to say.”
The witness further told the court that he oversees a network of 13 branches in Abuja and other locations such as Gwagwalada, the University of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello Way, Baze University, Garki, and the Garki Ultra Modern Market, among others.
He admitted that his clusters didn’t go beyond the Federal Capital Territory.
The witness was instructed to identify the signatories to the accounts and their designations using the materials provided as evidence.
He stated the names of the permanent secretary, chief accountant, and accountant.
Chronicle NG reported that on Thursday, the court admitted as evidence statements of accounts for the Kogi State Government House Administration during the tenure of Bello as governor and six others, marking them as exhibits.
In accordance with legal requirements, the witness presented computer-generated copies of the account statements as well as certificates of identification for each account.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case until July 3 and 4 for the continuation of the trial and July 21 for the decision on the travel application.
