Court Adjourns Central Bank Ex-Governor Godwin Emefiele’s Procurement Fraud Trial To June 3

An Abuja High Court has adjourned the alleged procurement fraud ongoing trial of the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to June 3, 2025.Nigerian cultural tourism packages

Court Adjourns Central Bank Ex-Governor Godwin Emefiele’s Procurement Fraud Trial To June 3

An Abuja High Court has adjourned the alleged procurement fraud ongoing trial of the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to June 3, 2025.

Justice Hamza Muazu, who made the adjustment in a ruling on Thursday, also rejected an additional proof of evidence presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Emefiele.Nigerian cultural tourism packages

Justice Muazu also dismissed the new evidence, stating that its late submission violated Emefiele’s right to a fair trial.

The EFCC had filed the additional proof of evidence on October 15, 2024, over a year after the initial charges were brought against Emefiele in August 2023.

The new evidence also sought to introduce two fresh witnesses, Tommy Odama John and Ifeanyi Omeke, whose statements were made in August 2024.

The judge criticised the EFCC for attempting to introduce evidence long after the trial had commenced, describing it as “trial by ambush.”

He emphasised that a criminal charge should be based on a completed investigation, not an ongoing one.

Justice Muazu noted that the prosecution had already amended the charge multiple times and previously submitted additional proof of evidence on February 12, 2024, to include testimony from former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and one Bamayi Haruna Mairiga.

While rejecting the latest proof of evidence, the judge declined to strike out the entire case as requested by Emefiele’s defence team.

He ruled that since both parties had already presented arguments and the trial was nearing completion, it would be in the interest of justice to proceed with the case.

Emefiele’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mathew Burkaa, had argued that the prosecution failed to confront the former CBN governor with certain witness statements during the investigation, which they claimed violated his right to a fair hearing. Nigerian cultural tourism packages

However, the court also declined to expunge the evidence of Mustapha and Mairiga from the records.

Emefiele faces a 20-count amended charge filed by the EFCC, including criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretenses, and obtaining money by false pretenses.

The anti-graft agency alleges that Emefiele forged a document titled “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions,” dated January 26, 2023, and falsely attributed it to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

He is also accused of using his position as CBN governor to grant unfair and corrupt advantages to two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

The case continues to draw national attention as one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving a former top government official in Nigeria.