The fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing alleged N80.2 billion money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has refuted claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer that the former governor’s security aides harassed him.

Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja after cross-examination on Friday that he felt the need to clarify 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 drew the judge’s attention to a story on the EFCC’s website, alleging that the Commission’s witness had been harassed.

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

Responding, Pinheiro said he would bring the matter to the attention of the EFCC office.

The witness, during cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, also confirmed that the former governor was neither a signatory to nor connected with any of the accounts presented as evidence.

He admitted that, going through Exhibit 22A, from pages 24 to 413, Yahaya Bello was not listed on any of the documents as a beneficiary of any transaction.

“I am here to speak on the documents before me. From the document, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello’s name did not feature in any description or as beneficiary in any transaction in the documents before me,” he confirmed.

The compliance officer had earlier mentioned the signatories on the accounts managed for the Kogi State Government House Administration and confirmed the letters that introduced those who replaced some key officials over time.

The prosecution counsel objected, saying that the defence counsel should restrict his question to the document and not ask the witness who benefited.

“The witness is not a law expert,” he argued. “But the witness, as an expert, knows what to say,” Justice Nwite responded.

The witness had earlier explained that he supervises a cluster of 13 branches within Abuja, as well as in other locations such as Gwagwalada, the University of Abuja, Ahmadu Bello Way, Baze University, Garki, and the Garki Ultra Modern Market, among others.

He also admitted that his clusters did not extend beyond the Federal Capital Territory.

The witness was previously instructed to identify the signatories to the accounts and their respective designations, considering the documents tendered as evidence.

He mentioned the names, ranging from the permanent secretary to the chief accountant and the accountant.

On the issue of harassment, the EFCC’s lawyer raised an observation that the witness had been harassed by one of the security details attached to the defendant.

The defence counsel doubted the claim, noting that he had always known his client to be a man of peace.

He, however, assured the court that he would investigate the allegation and report back accordingly.

The judge thereafter urged the defence counsel to investigate the matter thoroughly.

However, at the close of cross-examination, the prosecution witness sought the court’s permission to address the allegation made earlier.

The defence counsel commended the witness for his honesty and integrity in coming forward to clarify the situation.

He then informed the court about the application for the retrieval of the defendant’s travel documents.

However, the prosecution stated that they had filed a counter-affidavit to the application, arguing that it was technically incompetent.

Pinherio stated that the same application was filed at the FCT High Court, adding that it constituted an abuse of the court process.

Daudu said the prosecution was guilty of abusing the court process.

“We were served with the counter affidavit yesterday, and we overnight filed a further affidavit to the complainant’s counter affidavit with two exhibits as well.

“My lord, the substance of the application is for the release of his international passport in line with the conditions for the bail, that if he needs, he has to apply to the court.

“He has medical needs to attend to during the period of the vacation. After eight years of not travelling, he needs to attend to certain aspects of his health,” Daudu said.

The judge adjourned the trial to July 3 and 4 for its continuation and to July 21 for a ruling on the application to travel.

Justice Nwite had, on Thursday, rejected a move by the EFCC to ‘cross-examine’ its third witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering case against the former governor.

The witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, Chief Executive Officer of Efab Property Limited, had stated at a previous hearing that there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local governments in the state to the account of the American school.