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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.
In a major push to strengthen Nigeria’s food security, the National Assembly has forged a strategic partnership with agricultural colleges and research institutions across the country.
The collaboration focuses on enhanced research, improved legislation, better funding, and practical innovation to transform the agricultural sector.
The Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, chaired by Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South), announced the partnership ahead of the maiden National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.
The two-day event, themed “Unfolding the Potential of Agricultural Colleges and Institutions through Collaboration and Innovation to Enhance Food Security and Job Creation,” is scheduled for May 12–14, 2026, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Iyaganku, Ibadan, Senator Alli emphasized the urgent need to bridge the gap between farmers and research institutions.
He noted that many breakthroughs by Nigerian researchers including improved varieties of cassava, cocoa, and other crops have not reached smallholder farmers, contributing to declining productivity despite the country’s agricultural potential.
Senator Alli highlighted historical lessons, such as Malaysia’s rise in palm oil production after obtaining seedlings from Nigeria, stressing the need for Nigeria to reclaim its leadership in agriculture.
The summit will convene over 28 agricultural institutions, international development partners, embassies, policymakers, and stakeholders. It also aims to create jobs for youths and women through mechanized farming, reduce post-harvest losses with technologies like solar-powered dryers, and improve market access.
Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Professor Mohammed Atanda, described the initiative as timely and called for a stronger legislative framework to support research institutions.
Acting Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Dr. Adedeji Rasheed, urged greater private sector involvement in funding research, noting that government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility.
Professor Oluwatosin Gabriel of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) affirmed that Nigeria has the expertise to achieve food sufficiency with the right policies, funding, and coordination between federal and state governments.
This partnership forms part of broader National Assembly efforts to reposition agriculture as a driver of economic diversification, rural development, and poverty reduction.
Observers see the Ibadan summit as a critical step toward turning Nigeria’s agricultural institutions into innovation hubs capable of delivering sustainable food security.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has highlighted a remarkable upward trend in top Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) performances over the past 14 years, with peak scores rising from 299 in the early 2010s to a record 374 (and claims up to 375) in recent cycles.
This progression reflects improving preparation, better access to resources, and the competitive drive among Nigerian students aspiring for tertiary education, particularly in high-demand fields like Medicine, Engineering, and Sciences.
Key Highlights Across the Years:
- 2013 & 2014: The highest scores stood at 299, achieved by Olise Israel Chukwunalu (2013) and Onomejoh Princewill (2014). These marked the baseline in the early CBT era.
- 2015: Ilukwe Lottachukwu Geraldine led with 332.
- 2016: A tie at 359 between Akenbor Adesuwa Osarugue and Anonye Victory Emenike.
- 2017: Akingbulugbe Precious Ayomide scored 353.
- 2018: Galadima Israel Zakari topped with 364.
- 2019: Ezeunala Ekene Franklin achieved 347.
- 2020: Maduafokwa Egoagwuagwu Agnes set a strong benchmark with 365.
- 2021: Monwuba Chibuzo Chibuikem scored 358.
- 2022: Adebayo Eyimofe Oluwatofunmi reached 362.
- 2023: Umeh Kamsiyochukwu Nkechinyere posted 360.
- 2024: A three-way tie at 367 — Olowu Joseph Oluwasijibomi, Alayande David, and Orukpe Joel Ehijele.
- 2025: JAMB reported the highest score in over a decade at 374 (with one unconfirmed or later-adjusted claim of 375 by Okeke Chinedu Christian; other top performers included scores of 374 and 373).
- 2026: Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin (also referred to as Owoeye Jesudunsin), an Ekiti State indigene who sat the exam in Ogun State, emerged as the top scorer with 372. She aims to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has repeatedly noted these high performances even amid broader challenges like result glitches in some years, crediting dedicated candidates and improved study tools.
Trends and Context
Top scorers frequently target competitive courses such as Medicine and various Engineering disciplines at institutions like UNILAG. Many top performers come from strong tutorial centers and demonstrate exceptional subject mastery, often scoring 90+ in core sciences.
While the absolute highest has climbed significantly since 2013, JAMB continues to emphasize that UTME is just one factor in admission, alongside O’Level results and other criteria.
These outstanding achievements continue to inspire millions of Nigerian students, proving that excellence in UTME remains attainable with determination and proper preparation. As the examination evolves, future candidates are expected to push the boundaries even further.
News
FG Engages CCECC To Build N545bn New Carter Bridge in Lagos
The decision to reconstruct the bridge became necessary after years of alarming structural investigations revealed worsening defects beneath both the Carter Bridge and the 3rd Mainland Bridge.
The federal government has officially handed over the construction of a brand-new Carter Bridge in Lagos to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lagos, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, said that the decision to reconstruct the bridge became necessary after years of alarming structural investigations revealed worsening defects beneath both the Carter Bridge and the 3rd Mainland Bridge.
According to the minister, investigations into the underwater structural elements of the bridges began as far back as 2013, with another assessment carried out in 2019.
The reports, he said, showed that the defects were increasing at what experts described as “geometrical progression.”
Experts, according to him, advised that repairing the Carter Bridge would cost almost twice the amount required to build a completely new structure. Following detailed technical analysis, the federal government, he said, approved the construction of a new modern bridge.
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