Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday declined a request by defence counsel in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to call a prosecution witness as a defence witness.
The ruling was delivered during proceedings in the alleged N33.8 billion fraud case against the former minister.
The defence counsel, Femi Atteh (SAN), had urged the court to allow Abdulkareem Ibrahim Ozi — who earlier testified as Prosecution Witness Two, to give evidence for the defence on the strength of a subpoena.
Atteh argued that the witness was the maker of certain documents tendered in evidence and that clarification on the exhibits would assist the defence.
However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), objected, contending that the witness had already testified, was cross-examined and discharged by the court, and could not be recalled in that manner. He described the move as procedurally improper.