The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday April 24 2026 to rule on whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC can re present a previous statement to its 12th prosecution witness in the ongoing N80.2bn alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello
The ruling date was set on Thursday after arguments before Justice Emeka Nwite during the examination in chief of Abdullahi Jamilu also known as Jemilu Abdullahi owner of Kumfayakum Global Limited
EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro SAN had sought to confront the witness with Exhibit 46 his earlier statement to the commission in order to refresh his memory following what the prosecution described as inconsistencies in his testimony
The witness told the court that funds received from one Abba Adaudu were converted into United States dollars and delivered only at office locations in Abuja either his own office or that of the recipient He maintained that deliveries were limited to those offices
However defence counsel Joseph Daudu SAN objected arguing that the prosecution was attempting to contradict its own witness without first applying to have him declared hostile
“My Lord if learned counsel intends to contradict his witness he must first apply to have him declared a hostile witness” Daudu submitted citing Section 230 of the Evidence Act and the Supreme Court decision in Ibe v State 1997 He argued that confronting the witness with a prior statement already in evidence without due procedure was improper
In response Pinheiro argued that he was only seeking to refresh the witness memory under Section 239 1 2 and 3 of the Evidence Act noting that the transactions occurred in 2022 He maintained that the application did not amount to treating the witness as hostile
Daudu however insisted that the authorities relied upon by the prosecution were not applicable to the objection
Earlier in his testimony the witness denied making cash deposits at the Lokoja branch of Access Bank but acknowledged that variations of his name appeared in transaction narrations
He confirmed that deposits recorded on October 8 and 11 2021 and March 17 2022 were made at the Lokoja branch by Abba Adaudu
He also identified inflows into his company account from Keyless Nature Limited owned by Abba Adaudu including N100m on December 15 2021 and N400m on December 17 2021 as well as a N50m transfer from Ejadams Essence Limited on February 18 2022
The witness said he converted the funds into United States dollars and handed them to Adaudu
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until April 24 2026 for ruling on the objection and continuation of trial
The case involving 19 counts of alleged money laundering continues to attract public attention
