February 13, (THEWILL) – There was mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that its main witness, Rabiu Musa, had been scared away from court.
The witness, an Abuja-based Bureau De Change operator, was alleged to have been threatened, following his appearance at the last trial and got scared.
Lawyer to the anti-graft agency, Hannatu Kofamaisa, made the allegations at the resumed trial of Ali Bello and Daudu Suleiman in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor.
She told Justice James Omotoso that the witness would not be in court to continue his evidence based on his experience of threats at the last adjourned date, adding that she had called the witness five times but that he was no longer picking up her calls.
Counsel to Ali Bello, Abdullahi Aliu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that he would not react to the EFCC’s allegations because they were not targeted at his client and did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
Drama, however, unfolded when the witness alleged to have been threatened away from court and would not attend the trial suddenly walked into the courtroom without any signs of apprehension.
Counsel to Ali Bello got up and drew the attention of Justice Omotoso to the quiet arrival of the witness into the courtroom.
Justice Omotoso, however, doused tension when he prevented lawyers of Ali Bello and Daudu Suleman from joining issues with EFCC on the allegations.
In his testimony, the witness identified one of his record books of transactions seized from him by the EFCC during a raid of his office at Wuse, in Abuja and also admitted knowing Ali Bello.
Under cross-examination by Nureni Jimoh (SAN), who stood for Daudu Suleman, the Bureau De Change operator, who claimed to be illiterate, said most of the transactions were recorded for him by one Mubarak who he said was literate and now a student at a University.
He also admitted that parts of the transactions were recorded in his absence but that he was always briefed upon his arrival at the office.
Justice Omotoso, thereafter, fixed February 22 and 23 for the continuation of trial.
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