From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The trial of former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, took a dramatic twist, when a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mshellia Bata, denied the allegations made by the commission that he (witness) was thoroughly harassed and intimidated by security aides of the defendant on account of his testimony in court.
The witness, a Compliance Officer with Zenith Bank, in the open court, told Justice Emeka Mwite that nothing of such happened to him before, during and after the proceedings of June 26, contrary to the allegations by the agency.
Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) had before the proceedings of June 27 raised the alarm that agents of Yahaya Bello subjected the EFCC witness to intimidation and harassment, after giving evidence on June 26.
Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had expressed surprise with the allegations on the grounds that such action had never happened or been reported since the trial of his client began in the Federal High Court and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, both in Abuja.