Justice Hamza Muazu of an Abuja High Court on Tuesday imposed a N500,000 fine on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for seeking multiple adjournments in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank chief Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele, who previously served as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is facing several criminal charges, including breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, and obtaining money under false pretence during his tenure.
The anti-graft agency alleges that Emefiele fraudulently obtained $6,230,000 purportedly meant for international election observers during Nigeria’s 2023 general election.
In addition, the EFCC accused him of conferring corrupt advantages on two firms — April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Justice Muazu imposed the fine after the prosecution failed to produce its scheduled witness, DCP Edwin Okpoziakeo (PW13), in court, forcing another adjournment.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police was part of the investigative team that probed the alleged fraud.
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Earlier, EFCC counsel A.O. Mohammed told the court that although the witness had been notified, he could not attend due to administrative procedures. According to the prosecution, the police authorities required a formal request to the Inspector-General of Police before releasing the officer to testify.
Mohammed said he complied with the directive but later learned that the witness had a personal matter before another court in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, where his personal bank account was reportedly under a garnishee order. He therefore appealed for an adjournment to enable the witness to appear.
Counsel to Emefiele, Matthew Burkaa, strongly opposed the application, arguing that the prosecution had already exceeded the number of adjournments allowed under the law.
He cited Sections 396(3) and (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which limit each party to five adjournments from arraignment to final judgment.
According to the defence, the EFCC had been granted eight adjournments since the case began — well beyond the statutory limit. Burkaa also noted that the prosecution had previously requested an accelerated hearing, making repeated delays unacceptable.
He urged the court to refuse any further postponement, insisting that the witness prioritized personal matters over official duty.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu agreed that the defence’s objections had merit but emphasized that courts retain discretionary powers to grant adjournments in the interest of justice.
He noted that an investigating officer is a crucial witness who should not be excluded from proceedings of such magnitude.
However, the judge criticized the prosecution for delaying a case already designated for accelerated hearing and imposed a N500,000 penalty on the EFCC as a sanction.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until April 27 for continuation of trial.
The trial of the former apex bank governor remains one of Nigeria’s most closely watched corruption cases, given the serious financial allegations and the central role of the CBN in the country’s economic management.
Observers say the court’s decision signals growing judicial impatience with delays in high-profile criminal proceedings.