By Andrew Haruna
At the resumed hearing of the ₦80.2 billion fraud case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raised an alarm over alleged intimidation of a key prosecution witness.
Prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, that the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Mashelia Aryan Mashelia Bata—a compliance officer with Zenith Bank—had been subjected to harassment.
“We have it on good authority that PW4 has been harassed by one or two individuals who are security aides of the defendant. This is a serious interference with the criminal justice process,” Pinheiro told the court.
He urged the court to take the matter seriously as such interference undermines the integrity of the trial.
In response, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, expressed skepticism about the identity of the alleged harassers, stating that it was unclear whether they were indeed security personnel attached to his client.
“This is not the first witness to testify, and none have been harassed. However, I will look into it and get back to the court on the next adjourned date. I will also speak to the witness so he can identify who harassed him,” Daudu said.
Justice Emeka Nwite noted the development and advised that all parties exercise caution moving forward.
Meanwhile, the cross-examination of PW4 is ongoing as the high-profile corruption trial continues.