Court tells EFCC to ‘tidy up’ case as Emefiele trial continues over $6.23m fraud allegations

Court tells EFCC to ‘tidy up’ case as Emefiele trial continues over $6.23m fraud allegations

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday cautioned prosecutors to properly organise their case in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a case marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023, where he faces an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence.

Among the allegations, prosecutors claim that Emefiele knowingly obtained $6,230,000 by false pretence, funds said to have been earmarked for international election observers during the 2023 general election in Nigeria.

At Thursday’s hearing, Justice Muazu urged the prosecution to “tidy up” its case following an objection raised by defence counsel Matthew Burkaa (SAN).

The objection was filed after the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who also serves as the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), requested an adjournment shortly after the 12th prosecution witness concluded his evidence-in-chief.

Oyedepo told the court that the prosecution needed additional time to properly certify a document it intended to tender through the witness, EFCC investigator David Jaiyeola. He also informed the court that he had another official engagement to attend.

However, Burkaa opposed the request, telling the court that both the defence team and the defendant had travelled from Lagos to Abuja for the hearing.

The senior advocate further argued that the document the prosecution sought to re-certify had already been certified on September 21, 2024, and had remained in the prosecution’s possession for nearly two years without being properly prepared for tendering.

Burkaa urged the court to close the testimony of the 12th prosecution witness (PW12) and allow the defence to proceed with cross-examination.

While granting the adjournment request, Justice Muazu warned the prosecution to ensure proper preparation in future proceedings.

The judge noted that the prosecution had earlier requested and obtained accelerated hearing in the matter and therefore must handle the case accordingly.

The court subsequently adjourned the trial to March 16 for continuation of hearing.

Earlier in his testimony, Jaiyeola told the court that the EFCC investigative team recovered $2,045,000 in cash and several property documents from a lawyer linked to Emefiele, Collins Omeke.

Jaiyeola told the court that Omeke informed investigators that the cash found in his possession belonged to Emefiele and had been delivered to him through the former governor’s personal assistant, Eric Ocheme.

“He said the money belonged to the defendant and was sent to him through Mr Eric, who was the personal assistant to the defendant,” the witness said.

The investigator also testified that Omeke disclosed he had previously received additional sums of money, some of which were used to finance the development of the properties.

Jaiyeola further told the court that during the investigation, the EFCC obtained the bank statement of Archtekon Nigeria Limited from Zenith Bank.

Referring to the statement earlier admitted as evidence, the witness revealed that on March 5, 2020, the company received a cash inflow of N52,983,526.25 from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He added that investigators later discovered over N350 million had been transferred from the CBN to the company, a claim that was allegedly confirmed by MacCombo Omeile, described as an in-law of the defendant, who reportedly stated the funds were proceeds from contracts awarded by the apex bank.

The trial continues on March 16 as the court prepares to hear further testimony and cross-examination in the high-profile corruption case.