Court To Rule On Yahaya Bello’s School Fees Case May 8

A Federal High Court will rule on Yahaya Bello’s school fees case May 8.
EFCC opposed admitting the judgment, citing ongoing prosecution proceedings.
Bello’s lawyer argued that relevant documents are automatically admissible in court.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 8 for its ruling on whether to admit a judgment related to the school fees paid by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to the American International School, Abuja. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the proceedings on Friday after hearing arguments from both sides in Bello’s ongoing money laundering trial.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the case in question stems from a judgment issued by an FCT High Court regarding a lawsuit filed by Mr. Ali Bello against the Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja. The suit, numbered FCT/HC/CV/2574/2023, concerns a refund of $845,852, allegedly paid in advance for the enrollment of Bello’s children in the institution.

During cross-examination, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), attempted to submit the judgment as evidence. However, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), objected, arguing that the prosecution had not yet closed its case. Pinheiro maintained that allowing the defense to present documents at this stage would be premature and referenced Section 232 of the Evidence Act, which permits only prior written statements to be introduced during cross-examination for contradiction purposes.

In response, Daudu countered that under Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Evidence Act, 2011, documents are admissible as long as they are deemed relevant to the case. The court will now determine the admissibility of the judgment when it reconvenes on May 8.