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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has fixed June 26 for ruling in the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to cross-examine its own witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, in the alleged money laundering case against the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after listening to arguments by EFCC and Yahaya Bello on whether it was proper in law for the prosecution to cross examine its own witness after the cross examination by Bello’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN).
Disagreement arose when Daudu vehemently objected the procedural mode of cross-examining the witness after cross-examination by the defence.
Daudu told Justice Emeka Nwite that the only option opened to EFCC was to re-examine the witness as required by law and not to cross-examine the witness.
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The lawyer argued that for EFCC to lawfully cross-examine the witness, the agency must first declare such witness hostile.
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 the American International School in Abuja, and he answered in the affirmative.
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 concluded the cross-examination of the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, the EFCC’s lawyer, Olukayode Enitan (SAN), moved to also cross-examine the same witness on Exhibit 19, a judgment copy of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
