EFCC’s counsel lied, I wasn’t harassed by Yahaya Bello’s security aides, witness tells court

File: Yahaya Bello in court

By JUMOKE SANNI

*Says Yahaya Bello’s name not linked to documents presented as evidence

The fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has refuted, strongly, claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer that he was harassed by security aides of the former governor.

Mshelia Arhyel Bata, 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 Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, at the beginning of the day’s proceedings.

“My Lord, I wish to clarify the matter raised earlier before the commencement of proceedings. I was not harassed by any of the security details attached to the defendant.

“I was not harassed at all, and I felt the need to clarify this, my lord,” he stated.

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.

He also said the EFCC misrepresented the facts of the previous day’s court proceedings.