Emefiele fights back in court over fraud trial, says EFCC has no role in the case

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, has asked a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court to foreclose the prosecution in his trial for alleged procurement fraud.

Emefiele is facing a 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conferring corrupt advantage, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence.

The charge, marked CR/577/2023, was filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and is before Justice Hamza Muazu.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Matthew Burkaa, counsel to Emefiele, noted that the prosecution was not represented in court.

Burkaa recalled that the matter had been adjourned till September 23 for continuation of the hearing but the lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, was absent and did not send a representative.

The defence lawyer said he was informed by the court’s registrar through a WhatsApp message that there was a letter before the court requesting an adjournment.

He added that upon arriving in court, he was shown a document sent by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which, he argued, was not the agency that filed the charge.

Burkaa said: “The charge before this court was brought by the office
of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

“It is therefore surprising that the EFCC is the one asking for adjournment. My lord, the defendant and his lawyers came all the way from Lagos. There is no excuse for the prosecution’s absence.”

Burkaa prayed the court to foreclose the prosecution because there was no formal application from the AGF’s office for adjournment.

In his ruling, Justice Muazu said the court would grant the prosecution one last opportunity to present its case.

“The court will do the needful should the prosecution fail to appear on the next adjourned date,” he held.

The case was adjourned till October 22 and 23 for continuation of the hearing.