By Adesakin Adefemi
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday adjourned the money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to April 24, 2026, following a legal row over the prosecution’s attempt to use a witness’s prior statement.
The adjournment came after defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, objected to a move by the prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, to re-present Exhibit 46 — the earlier statement made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Jamilu.
Daudu argued that the prosecution can not contradict its own witness without first obtaining leave of court to declare him hostile. “My Lord, I object,” he told the court. “If learned counsel intends to contradict his witness, he must first apply to have him declared a hostile witness.”
The dispute arose when Jamilu, owner of Kumfayakum Global Limited, testified that he could only confirm delivering funds in United States dollars at his office or that of Abba Adaudu in Abuja. When asked if deliveries occurred elsewhere, he said he could not affirm.
At that point, Pinheiro sought to show the witness his earlier EFCC statement to refresh his memory, citing Section 239 of the Evidence Act. He maintained that the transactions occurred in 2022, and the witness was entitled to have his memory refreshed.
Daudu countered that the prosecution’s approach amounted to treating its witness as hostile without following due procedure. He cited Section 230 of the Evidence Act and the Supreme Court decision in _Ibe v. State_ (1997), insisting the move was improper.
Earlier in his evidence-in-chief, Jamilu denied making any cash deposits at the Lokoja branch of Access Bank. He said that although the name “Abdullahi Jamilu” appeared on deposit slips, the deposits were made by Abba Adaudu on October 8 and 11, 2021, and March 17, 2022.
The witness told the court that upon receiving funds, he converted them into United States dollars and handed them over to Adaudu. He also identified inflows into his company’s account, including N100 million and N400 million from Keyless Nature Limited, which he said is owned by Adaudu.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to April 24, 2026, for a ruling on whether the prosecution can rely on the witness’s prior statement and for continuation of trial.
