Court to decide on Yahaya Bello’s trial evidence Friday

A legal battle is unfolding in the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning the ongoing money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking to re-present Exhibit 46, a document intended to clarify aspects of its 12th prosecution witness's testimony, which appeared inconsistent with earlier accounts.

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My Lord, I object. If learned counsel intends to contradict his witness, he must first apply to have him declared a hostile witness.

The crux of the matter lies in whether the prosecution can confront its own witness with a prior statement made to the anti-graft agency. The EFCC's counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), argued for the document's re-presentation to refresh the witness's memory, citing provisions of the Evidence Act. However, this move was met with strong opposition from Bello's defence team, led by Joseph Daudu (SAN).

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My contention is that my learned friend is attempting to treat his witness as hostile by confronting him with prior statements already tendered as exhibits.

Daudu contended that the prosecution's attempt to use the document to contradict or augment the witness's oral evidence, without first seeking leave to declare the witness hostile, violates due procedure. The witness, Abdullahi Jamilu, owner of Kumfayakum Global Limited, had testified about converting funds but maintained he only made deliveries at specific office locations. The court has now adjourned the ruling on this application, setting April 24, 2026, for its decision, leaving the procedural arguments to be settled before the trial can proceed further on the N80.2 billion money laundering allegations.

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I was not contradicting the witness but merely seeking to refresh his memory, noting that the transactions in question occurred in 2022.