Court adjourns Emefiele’s trial as EFCC files additional proof of evidence

The Lagos State Special Offences Court successful Ikeja, connected Friday, adjourned until 9 May for defence to survey further impervious of grounds submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) connected the erstwhile Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Emefiele was charged with $4.5 cardinal and N2.8 cardinal fraud.

The judge, Rahman Oshodi, successful a abbreviated ruling, said helium had considered the submissions of some the parties and was satisfied with the reasons fixed by the defence for adjournment.

He said: “I person considered the conflicting submissions regarding whether I should adjourn for further continuation of proceedings oregon not.
“I americium satisfied with the reasons fixed by the defence.
“For the adjournment sought, I assistance it.
“I adjourn until 9 May for continuation of trial.”

Earlier, Olalekan Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), counsel for the ex- CBN governor, had informed the tribunal that the prosecution filed an further impervious of grounds and helium needed capable clip to spell done it.

Mr Ojo argued that Mr Emefiele had not seen the papers and that justness rushed was justness crushed.

“I americium constrained astatine this constituent to inquire your lordship to bash justice, the impervious indispensable beryllium served aboriginal capable but I was being served this morning.

“Defence whitethorn find thing utile successful the further impervious of grounds to cross-examine the witnesser successful the box.
“I humbly impulse the tribunal to adjourn this substance truthful that I tin thoroughly spell done it and survey it,” helium said.

The 2nd defence counsel, Adeyinka Kotoye a SAN, besides aligned himself with the submission of the archetypal defence counsel.

Mr Kotoye argued that it was lone successful Nigeria that prosecution would beryllium conducting investigation, portion a lawsuit was already ongoing successful court.

He, therefore, urged the tribunal to adjourn the lawsuit successful the involvement of justness and capable accidental to survey the further impervious of evidence.

“I impulse your lordship not to entertain this proceedings by ambush and enactment a halt to it.
“I besides use your lordship mandate the prosecution to proviso america each applicable materials.

“Therefore, successful the tone of fairness, I impulse your lordship to adjourn the case,” Mr Kotoye said.

The EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, besides a SAN, had informed the tribunal that the 2nd prosecution witnesser was successful tribunal for the continuation of cross-examination and that helium had served the defence the connection of 1 John Adetola arsenic an further impervious of evidence.

Mr Oyedepo, portion opposing the submissions of the defence counsel, had prayed the tribunal for the continuation of the cross-examination of the 2nd prosecution witness.

He said it was unfair for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whom helium held successful precocious esteem to picture his squad and its activities arsenic prosecutorial unfairness.

According to him, Mr Adetola was the 5th connected the database of prosecution witnesses included successful the impervious of evidence.

Mr Oyedepo said Mr Adetola’s connection was contained successful the Volume Two of what was served connected defence connected 4 April.

He said: “In mentation for his grounds that volition beryllium coming up not today, not adjacent connected 9 May, the prosecution, alternatively than hold for defence to formally spot a request connected america connected what is successful the device, diligence prosecution made maine marque the instrumentality disposable to defence.
“My lord, however does that magnitude to prosecutorial unfairness?
“I plead with defence not to hold this lawsuit unnecessarily arsenic we person a witnesser successful the container who had fixed grounds and helium is being cross-examined by the archetypal defence counsel.
“If defence is aggravated that I served them the impervious of grounds today, we tin retreat it and service the aforesaid connected a aboriginal day.”

The prosecution told the tribunal that the nine was funny and watching the proceeding of the case.

“The nine is interested, they are watching us, volition this substance beryllium adjourned based connected the grounds of different antheral who is not the witnesser successful the box?

“We are not rushing oregon crushing justice, rather, we are aiding the lipid of justness to emergence steadily.

“Expeditious determination of lawsuit is of utmost value and truthful we impulse your lordship to let the cross-examination,” Mr Oyedepo said.

NAN reports that a erstwhile Director of Information Technology of the CBN, John Ayoh, had connected 29 April narrated however helium allegedly collected $600,000 for declaration gratification for Mr Emefiele.

The EFCC connected 8 April arraigned Mr Emefiele connected 23 counts of maltreatment of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand, receiving spot fraudulently obtained and conferring corrupt advantage.

Also, his co-defendant was arraigned connected 3 counts bordering connected acceptance of acquisition by agents.

Mr Emefiele besides faces proceedings successful Abuja implicit corruption charges preferred against him by the EFCC implicit his activities successful bureau arsenic the CBN governor.

(NAN)