There was mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that its main witness, Rabiu Musa, in the N10 billion fraud suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor, had been scared away from trial.
The witness, an Abuja-based Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, was allegedly threatened, following his appearance at the last trial.
EFCC counsel, Hannatu Kofamaisa, made the allegations at the resumed trial of Ali Bello and Daudu Suleiman. 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.
But Bello’s counsel, Abdullahi Aliu (SAN), told the court that he would not react to the EFCC allegation because they were not targeted at his client and did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
Drama, however, unfolded when the witness suddenly walked into the courtroom without any visible sign of apprehension.
Counsel to Bello got up and drew the attention of the judge to the quiet arrival of the witness into the courtroom.
Justice Omotoso doused tension when he prevented the plaintiffs and defendants’ counsel 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 EFCC during a raid of his office at Wuse in Abuja and admitted knowing Bello.
Under cross-examination by Nureni Jimoh (SAN), who stood for Suleman, the BDC operator, who claimed to be illiterate, said most of the transactions were recorded for him by one Mubarak, who he said was literate and presently a university student.
He also admitted that parts of the transactions were recorded in his absence, but that he was always briefed.
The judge, thereafter, fixed February 22 and 23 for continuation of trial.
