The immediate past Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello on Friday, asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to release his travel document to him to enable him travel out of the country for medical attention.At the proceedings on Friday, Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel to Yahaya Bello informed the court about the application for the retrieval of the Defendant’s travel documents to enable him to travel abroad for treatment.
The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN said, they had filed a counter-affidavit to the application, arguing that the application was technically incompetent. Pinherio said the same application which was also filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that, is an abuse of the Court process. After listening to submissions of parties on Bello’s request to travel abroad for medical attention, the trial Judge fixed July 21 for ruling on the application.
Meanwhile, the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Mshelia Arhyel Bata, under cross-examination, refuted claims by the EFCC’s lawyer that he was harassed by security aides of the former Governor.The PW4, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, said, at the conclusion of cross-examination on Friday, that he felt the need to make the clarification on the allegation, raised by counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, at the beginning of the day’s proceedings.
The Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, also called the attention of the Judge to a story on the EFCC’s website, alleging that the Commission’s witness was harassed and accused the EFCC of misrepresenting the facts of the previous day’s court proceedings.The Judge adjourned till July 3 and 4 for continuation of trial and July 21 for ruling on Yahaya Bello’s application to travel.
