From Lateef Taiwo
The Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday adjourned till February 22 and 23, the continuation of trial in the alleged N10bn fraud suit brought against Ali Bello, nephew to the immediate past Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
At today’s hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that its main witness, Rabiu Musa, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor, has been scared away from trial.
The witness, an Abuja based Bureau De Change operator, was alleged to have been threatened, following his appearance at the last trial and got scared.
Hannatu Kofamaisa, Lawyer to EFCC had stated this to the open court at the resumed trial of Ali Bello and Daudu Suleiman.
She told the presiding judge, Justice James Omotoso that the witness would not be in court to continue his evidence, based on his experience of threats at the last adjourned date, adding that she had called the witness five times but that he was no longer picking her calls.
Counsel to Ali Bello, Abdullahi Aliu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that he would not react to the EFCC’s allegations because they were not targeted at his client and did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
The witness alleged to have been threatened away from court and would not attend the trial, however showed up in court much later to be cross examined without any sign of apprehension.
The counsel to Ali Bello got up and drew the attention of Justice Omotoso to the quiet arrival of the witness into the court room.
Justice Omotoso however doused tension when he prevented lawyers to Ali Bello and Daudu Suleman from joining issues with EFCC on the allegations.
In his testimony, the witness identified one of his record books of transactions seized from him by EFCC during a raid of his office at Wuse, in Abuja and also admitted knowing Ali Bello.
Under cross examination by Nureni Jimoh SAN who stood for Daudu Suleman, the Bureau De Change operator who claimed to be an illiterate said most of the transactions were recorded for him by one Mubarak who he said was literate and now a student at a University.
He also admitted that parts of the transactions were recorded in his absence but that he was always briefed upon his arrival at the office.
Ali, a nephew of Kogi State Governor was on February 8, 2023, arraigned alongside Abba Dauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadai Sadat, on an 18 count criminal charge.
The defendants were in count one charged with procuring, “E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.
They were also charged with procuring, “E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act”,
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