The ongoing trial of Kogi State's former Governor, Yahaya Bello, took a new turn as the Federal High Court in Abuja set a date for a ruling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) request to cross-examine its own witness, Mr. Nicholas Ojehomon, in the alleged money laundering case.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Olukayode Enitan (SAN), filed an application to cross-examine Ojehomon, an internal auditor from the American International School (AISA), regarding a court judgment introduced by the defense. The defense, led by Joseph Daudu (SAN), opposed the request, arguing that the prosecution could only re-examine the witness but not cross-examine, unless the witness was first declared hostile.
Ojehomon, the third prosecution witness, had testified that there was no evidence linking Kogi’s government or any local government in the state to payments for Bello’s children’s school fees, despite earlier claims of the alleged misappropriation. The defense attempted to introduce a judgment in a similar matter, but the prosecution objected.
The court has now scheduled a ruling for June 26 after both sides presented their arguments on whether the prosecution should be allowed to cross-examine Ojehomon. The ruling will be a significant development in this high-profile case.
