The 10th prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has maintained that the former governor’s name is not linked to transactions before the court.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
The witness, Mahmoud Abdulazeez, a staff of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited, had, during his examination-in-chief, identified Exhibit 42 as the Irrevocable Power of Attorney between Dantata and Sawoe and Azab Real Estate Limited.
He also identified Exhibit 43 as a Deed of Assignment between Dantata and Azab Real Estate Limited.
This was after Justice Emeka Nwite admitted the two exhibits after a short ruling on the admissibility of the documents.
During his cross-examination by the Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the witness said the document, marked as Exhibit 43, did not state the value of the property in question.
Abdulazeez also noted that he had worked as an accountant for over 25 years.
He admitted that, in his years of experience, he had not received documents which did not contain the value of the property being sold.
“In all your 25 years, have you been in receipt of documents which do not contain the value of the property that is being sold?” Daudu SAN asked.
“No, my lord,” the witness responded.
The witness also told the court that, during the perfection of the transaction, the former governor, Yahaya Bello, was not a participant nor did he sight him anywhere near their office.
“Dantata and Sawoe gave consent and assigned Azbar to execute the deed and Azbar gave us these two documents. Our directors signed on behalf of Dantata and Ali Bello signed on behalf of Azbar,” he said.
Earlier, Justice Emeka Nwite had ruled that the documents sought to be tendered by the EFCC, which the Defendant’s Counsel objected to, were admissible.
The Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, had raised objection to the admissibility of two documents – irrevocable power of attorney and deed of assignment.
The judge said the central question was whether the documents sought to be tendered were admissible in accordance with Sections 108, 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act.
He said he agreed with the Defendant’s Counsel that the documents sought to be tendered were public documents in line with Section 102, which must satisfy Section 104 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
He, however, added that the prosecution had argued that the documents sought to be tendered were not for a civil case but a criminal trial.
The Court also agreed with the prosecution that the purpose of tendering the documents was to establish the existence of a transaction and not to prove title to the land or property.
The prosecution counsel then called the 11th witness, James Igbakule, with regard to a property on Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2 District, Abuja.
The witness, a legal practitioner, told the court that the payment for the said property was made in three tranches.
He added that it was one Shehu Bello that contacted him after his client, SFC Foods Limited, approached him to sell the property.
He said, shortly after the conclusion of transactions, he was invited by one Mohammed at the EFCC, who said the agency was investigating a matter and that his name had featured prominently.
During cross-examination, the 11th witness also said he was seeing former Governor Bello for the first time and that he never had any business with him.
Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also called a 12th prosecution witness, Jemilu Abdullahi, a Bureau De Change operator.
He confirmed that he knew some of the companies that had been mentioned in the course of the trial but said that his transactions were mainly with Keyless Nature Limited and Ejadams Essence Limited.
He also confirmed transactions, in multiples of N10 million by one Abba Adaudu.
After a brief recess, the Defendant’s Counsel said he had filed an application for the red alert issued before the Defendant’s appearance in court to be removed.
Daudu SAN argued that granting the relief to travel without taking away the red notice was like giving something with one hand and taking it from the other hand.
He said this after prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN observed that their application to vacate the earlier order granting the Defendant the permission to travel abroad was for his own good.
“The application was granted for the defendant to travel during the period of Ramadan for 10 days, beginning from March 13.
“So if they want the travel to be another date after Ramadan, they will have to bring another application,” Pinheiro SAN said.
Justice Nwite, however, said he would need to look at the issues critically before giving a ruling.
He therefore adjourned sitting to April 22, 23 and 24, and May 6 and 7, for continuation of trial.
Get your copy today and take the first step toward financial growth:👉 https://selar.co/4f16676016
_______________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
