A federal High Court sitting in Abuja has scheduled May 8 to rule on the admissibility of a judgment concerning school fees paid by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to the American International School, Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter on Friday after hearing arguments from both parties in Bello’s ongoing trial for alleged money laundering.
The judgment in question was delivered by an FCT High Court in a case between Ali Bello and the Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/2574/2023).
It relates to the refund of $845,852, which had been paid in advance for the former governor’s children’s admission.
During the cross-examination of the EFCC’s third witness, Nicholas Ohehomon, an official of the school, Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), sought to tender the judgment as evidence.
However, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), objected, arguing that the prosecution had not yet closed its case.
He cited Section 232 of the Evidence Act, stating that only prior written statements of a witness could be introduced during cross-examination to challenge their testimony.
Daudu, in response, insisted that the admissibility of evidence in both civil and criminal cases is determined by relevance.
He cited Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Evidence Act, 2011, stating that once a document is deemed relevant, it should be admitted.
The court will now rule on the matter on May 8.
