A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday admitted into evidence receipts of school fees paid in advance to the American International School, Abuja (AISA) for the children of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The receipts were among several documents presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the resumed hearing of Bello’s trial on an alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering case.
The prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), tendered the documents through its third witness, Nicholas Ohehomon, an Internal Auditor at AISA. Ohehomon confirmed that the receipts were issued in the names of four of Bello’s children.
During Friday’s proceedings, Ohehomon was shown a document marked Exhibit 13P1, which he identified as a telex from United Bank for Africa (UBA), sent by Bello’s relative, Ali Bello, to AISA. He also identified additional documents (Exhibits 13P2 to 13P4) as records of transfers made by Forza Oil and Gas for the school fees. Another telex from Whales Oil and Gas to AISA was admitted as Exhibit 13P5.
When asked whether Yahaya Bello’s name appeared in the documents, Ohehomon confirmed that it was included.
During cross-examination, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), sought to introduce a bundle of documents, which he claimed contained a judgment from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) regarding a suit between Ali Bello and AISA over the school fees payment.
However, Pinheiro objected, arguing that the defence could not introduce evidence while the prosecution had not yet closed its case. Citing Section 232 of the Evidence Act, he contended that only prior statements made by a witness could be tendered during cross-examination to challenge their testimony.
Pinheiro urged the court to reject the document, arguing that the defence had not demonstrated its admissibility under the law.
In response, Daudu maintained that admissibility is based on relevance, citing Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Evidence Act, 2011. He argued that since the document contained a judgment involving AISA, it was automatically admissible.
Daudu also stated that the judgment was a public document, reflecting AISA’s involvement in the case. He contended that Ohehomon, as AISA’s witness, was central to the proceedings leading to the judgment.
Rejecting the prosecution’s objections, Daudu asserted that the EFCC’s discomfort with the document was not grounds for excluding it.
After hearing both sides, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to May 8 for a ruling on the admissibility of the judgment and the continuation of the trial.
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