A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday asked an Abuja High Court to foreclose the prosecution in his ongoing trial over alleged procurement fraud.
Emefiele is standing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu on an amended 20-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), in case number CR/577/2023.
The federal government accuses him of criminal breach of trust, conferring corrupt advantage, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence during his tenure as CBN governor.
Prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2022, he awarded six contracts worth N1.2 billion for the supply of vehicles to April 1616 Investment Ltd., a company in which Sa’adatu Ramalan Yaro, a CBN staff member, is a director and shareholder. Emefiele has pleaded not guilty.
At the resumed hearing, Emefiele’s lawyer, Mathew Burkaa (SAN), urged the court to foreclose the prosecution for failing to appear, despite knowing the adjourned date.
Burkaa told the court that the case was fixed for continuation of hearing but the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), neither appeared nor sent a representative. He said he was informed by the court registrar on Monday via WhatsApp that the prosecution had written to request an adjournment.
According to him, the application came from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), even though the case was filed by the AGF’s office.
He argued that the prosecution had previously asked for accelerated hearing of the matter, yet failed to show up. Burkaa also noted that his client and legal team travel from Lagos to attend the trial, stressing that their time and resources were being wasted.
“There is no application from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for adjournment. My Lord, we urge the court to foreclose the prosecution,” Burkaa submitted.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu declined the request but warned that the prosecution would be given “one last opportunity.” He said the court would “do the needful” if they failed to appear at the next sitting.
The case was adjourned until October 22 for continuation of hearing.
