The dispute over the admissibility of the statement arose midway into proceedings yesterday when the prosecution lawyer, Kayode Enitan (SAN), sought to tender the statement made by the 14th prosecution witness (PW-14), Shehu Bello, a move the defence lawyer, Adebayo Adedeji (SAN), opposed.

While being led in evidence by Enitan, Bello told the court about a property located at Plot 1891, Dalla Hills, Maitama in Abuja.

He said: “My friend, Ali Bello, approached me to see if I knew of any good construction company that could build a house for him.

“So, I recommended a company, Metro Deck Construction Company Limited. I brought them and he gave them the job to build the house for him.

Commenting on how the company was paid, the witness said Ali Bello made transfers to the company and that on some occasions, he paid them in cash in naira.

The witness also told the court what he knew about a property located at Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse II, Abuja.

He said: “My friend, Ali Bello, asked me if I could get him a property around Wuse II, where he could build some shops.

“After we spoke, I got some people and spoke with some colleagues.

“We got a plot of land in that location, on Durban Street, Plot 1058, Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse II, Abuja,” he said.

Bello said the property was purchased from SFC Foods Limited.

The witness identified the statement he made to the EFCC, following Enitan’s application to tender same in evidence, an application Adedeji opposed, arguing, among others, that it was inadmissible.

Source: The Nation News