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Yahaya Bello Vs EFCC: Court Adjourns Ruling and Continuation of Trials to June 26 , 27 and July 4 and 5
You cannot cross examine him based on the document,” Daudu SAN argued. Enitan SAN added that he had the right to draw the attention of the court to some specific paragraphs in the document.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of the alleged money laundering case instituted against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to June 26, 27 and July 4 and 5 for ruling on the request by the prosecution to “cross-examine” the 3rd witness and for continuation of trial.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the hearing after listening to addresses by the prosecution and defence counsels on the Prosecution’s move to initially cross-examine the witness, a position that was rejected by the Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN.
When the matter was called for continuation of cross-examination, the Defendant’s counsel asked the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, whether he had testified in other courts with respect to the issue of school fees paid by the Bello family to AISA, he said yes.
But 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 Daudu SAN concluded the cross-examination of the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, the EFCC’s lawyer, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, moved to also cross-examine the Commission’s witness on Exhibit 19.
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.
“I am not re-examining him, I am cross-examining him because they brought this document,” he said.
The Defendant’s lawyer, however, drew the court’s attention to the fact that the prosecution counsel’s position was unknown to law, in line with the Evidence Act.
“If you want to cross-examine your own witness, you have to first declare him a hostile witness. You cannot cross examine him based on the document,” Daudu SAN argued. Enitan SAN added that he had the right to draw the attention of the court to some specific paragraphs in the document.
At this point, the judge asked: “Do you have any provision of the law to support this?””I will draw your lordship attention to Section 36 of the Constitution.
They sought to tender this document, we objected and the court granted their prayer. Fair hearing demands that the complainant too has the right to examine this because Section 36 of the Constitution talks of fair hearing,”
Enitan responded. “We are not saying that they cannot re-examine the witness. That is what Section 36 under the law says about fair hearing. But if it is to cross-examine him, he will have to show us the law that backs that.
“He cannot come under the guise of fair hearing to want to cross-examine the witness,” the Defendant’s lawyer maintained. The judge, at the end of the arguments, refused to allow cross-examination of the witness by the EFCC lawyer.”
Under the procedure, the witness gives evidence in chief and the defendant cross examines, then the prosecution re-examines.
“With due respect, what I will do is if you people are so skewed to continue with this, it is better to address me on this and I will take a position,” he stated.
At this point, the prosecution counsel agreed to re-examine the EFCC’s witness and the judge gave him the go-ahead.”You can re-examine him on that but not to ask questions that will show cross examination,” Justice Nwite said.
However, when the prosecution lawyer proceeded to re-examine the witness, and his questions pointed at cross-examination, as observed by Daudu SAN, the judge insisted that the parties had to address him on the specific issue.
The Defendant’s Counsel, in his address, maintained that the position was unknown to law.
“My lord, the procedure that is being sought by the prosecution by refering the witness to the document tender in Exhibit 19 and by asking him to read paragraph 1, without drawing his attention to the issue on how the document affected his evidence in chief, the question asked in cross-examination, and the ambiguity, which needs clarification, amounts to a strange and unknown procedure not covered by the Evidence Act,” he stated.
Enitan SAN, disagreed, saying that in the case of Amobi Amobi referred to by the defendant’s counsel, the Supreme Court held that the learned trial judge ought to have allowed a re-examination of Exhibit E.
He said when the defendant sought to introduce the document, the prosecution team “submitted that this document was not made by the witness and as such, he should not be allowed to speak to it under cross examination or allowed to be confronted with it.”
“Having brought it in now, during the case of the prosecution, particularly during the cross examination of PW-3, your lordship should not allow them to shut us out as that would amount to the court allowing them to blow hot and cold,” Pinheiro SAN said.
Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned to June 26, 27 and July 4 and 5 for ruling and continuation of trial.
The 3rd prosecution witness had, at the last hearing on Thursday, said there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state to the account of the American International School, Abuja.
He also read out a part of a previous Federal Capital Territory High Court judgment that said there was no court order for AISA to return fees to EFCC or any judgment declaring the money as proceeds of money laundering.
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Twining Boosts UK’s Investment in Nigeria By £24mn Ovaltine factory
Located on Wempco road, Ogba, Lagos, Ovaltine has been available and popular in Nigeria since the 1930s via imports.
The manufacturing facility marks the commencement of direct, local manufacturing of the brand by Twinings.
British beverage maker Twining Ovaltine is pumping a fresh £24 million into its Lagos manufacturing facility in an efforts to strengthen the bilateral trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
This is disclosed in a statement a statement issued by the UK’s Department of Business and Trade.It said that the investment will create over 100 direct jobs and boosting the company’s exports across West Africa.
Peter Kyle, the UK’s business and trade secretary, said that with bilateral trade now at an all-time high of £8.1 billion a year, the UK and Nigeria are showing how countries grow faster when they grow together.
He emphasised that as the two economies continue to enhance cooperation and trade relations, the investment plans will provide jobs for both countries while transforming lives.
“With Nigerian firms creating jobs across the UK and British businesses expanding into one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, our partnership is strengthening both economies and delivering real benefits for people in both countries,” Kyle said.
Meanwhile, located on Wempco road, Ogba, Lagos, Ovaltine has been available and popular in Nigeria since the 1930s via imports.The manufacturing facility marks the commencement of direct, local manufacturing of the brand by Twinings.
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Insecurity: PDP says Nigeria’s Safer in 2015 Than Today
In the statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary, the party sympathise with the families who have been affected by bombing and calls on the federal government to move beyond rhetoric in security matters.
Opposition party -The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has beaten it’s chest saying, “There is no one, including the President, who will not agree that our country was safer in 2015 than it is today.”
In a statement on Tuesday, the opposition party referenced the recent multiple bombings in Maiduguri, resulting in at least 23 deaths and injuring more than 100 people, alleging that “it was another incontrovertible piece of evidence of the inability of the APC-led federal government to curb the growing insecurity in the country.”
This bombing is an unfortunate addition to the numerous acts of grave insecurity that have occurred under the watch of President Bola Tinubu, who was the loudest campaign voice for the APC, promising to end insecurity immediately if his party is elected. Sadly, 11 years later, insecurity has not only increased significantly in the Northeastern part of Nigeria; it has spread almost uncontrollably to many other parts of the country that were hitherto very safe and peaceful.
Despite this glaring failure, the APC-led Presidency has devoted more time, energy, and resources to the task of political genocide against the opposition, instead of deploying the same to combat the growing insecurity that has become the lived reality and new normal of Nigerians.
In the statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary, the party sympathise with the families who have been affected by bombing and calls on the federal government to move beyond rhetoric in security matters and engage strategic stakeholders, especially community leaders, as part of a whole-of-society approach to combating insecurity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will depart Abuja tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, for a landmark state visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The visit, the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years and the first hosted by a British monarch at Windsor Castle, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria-UK relations. President Tinubu will be hosted at Windsor Castle from Wednesday, March 18, to Thursday, March 19.
During the stay, Their Majesties will invite the presidential couple to view a special Royal Collection exhibition featuring items related to Nigeria. Private discussions between King Charles and President Tinubu will follow, alongside meetings with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue.
The day will culminate in a State Banquet hosted by the Royal Family in honour of the Nigerian guests.President Tinubu will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, paving the way for expanded high-level engagement.
The discussions are expected to result in the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
A key highlight includes President Tinubu witnessing the signing of a major £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance (UKEF), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The deal will support the refurbishment of Nigeria’s critical maritime infrastructure at the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President will serve as guest of honour at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, celebrating modern arts and culture, and attend a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as the diaspora community.
The presidential entourage includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa (rtd); National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the visit, which aims to deepen bilateral ties in immigration, trade, investment, security, and cultural exchange while reinforcing the enduring historical bond between the two nations.
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