Court adjourns EFCC’s money laundering suit against Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman

Drama erupted on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that its main witness, Rabiu Musa Tafada, in the alleged N10 billion money laundering charge against Ali Bello and Suleiman Daudu, has been scared away from trial.

The witness, an Abuja-based Bureau of Change operator, was alleged to have been threatened following his appearance on February 6 and got scared.

EFCC’s lawyer, Hannatu Kofamaisa, who made the allegations at the resumed trial of the two defendants on Tuesday, told the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, that the witness would not be in court to continue his evidence based on his experience of threats at the last adjourned date.

She told the court that she had called the witness five times but that he was no longer picking up her calls and asked for an adjournment of the trial.

Counsel to Ali Bello, Abdullahi Aliu (SAN), told the court that he would not react to the EFCC’s allegations because they were not targeted at his client and did not oppose the request for an adjournment.

Drama, however, unfolded when the witness, who was alleged to have been threatened away from court and would not attend the trial, suddenly walked into the courtroom without any signs of apprehension.

The counsel to Ali Bello then drew the attention of Justice Omotosho to the quiet arrival of the witness into the courtroom.

The judge, however, doused the tension when he prevented lawyers Ali Bello and Daudu Suleman from joining issues with the anti-graft agency on the allegation.

In his testimony, the witness identified one of his record books of transactions seized from him by the EFCC during a raid of his office at Wuse, in Abuja, and also admitted knowing Ali Bello.

Under cross-examination by Nureni Jimoh (SAN), who stood for Daudu Suleman, the Bureau of Change operator who claimed to be illiterate said most of the transactions were recorded for him by one Mubarak, who he said was literate and now a student at a university.

He also admitted that parts of the transactions were recorded in his absence but that he was always briefed upon his arrival at the office.

Justice Omotosho thereafter fixed February 22 and 23 for the continuation of the trial of Bello and Suleiman, who are being prosecuted by the EFCC for money laundering to the tune of N10 billion.