By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, on Tuesday imposed a ₦500,000 fine on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for repeated adjournments sought in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Trial Justice Hamza Mu’azu handed down the penalty after the anti-graft agency failed to produce its 13th prosecution witness, DCP Edwin Okpoziakeo, as scheduled. The witness, a serving police officer who was part of the investigation team, was unavailable due to what prosecution counsel described as “administrative bottlenecks” and a personal court matter.
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EFCC lawyer Mr. A. O. Mohammed informed the court that although the witness had been notified, the police hierarchy required a formal letter to the Inspector-General of Police before releasing him. Mohammed said he promptly wrote the letter, but the witness later informed him of a garnishee order on his personal account being heard in a Gwagwalada court on the same day.
He pleaded for another adjournment to enable the witness to appear. Defence Opposition & Ruling Emefiele’s lead counsel, Mr. Matthew Burkaa (SAN), strongly opposed the request. Citing 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 Burkaa pointed out that the EFCC had already been granted eight adjournments, exceeding the statutory limit.
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He argued that the prosecution’s failure to prioritise the witness’s appearance allowing personal matters to take precedence should not further delay the trial or prejudice the defendant, who had earlier requested an accelerated hearing.
In his ruling, Justice Mu’azu agreed with the defence that the EFCC had exceeded the statutory adjournment limit. However, he exercised discretion to grant one more adjournment in the interest of justice, noting that the witness as an investigator should not be shut out.
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The judge therefore ordered the EFCC to pay ₦500,000 as a penalty for the delay and adjourned the matter to April 27, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Emefiele, who served as CBN Governor from 2014 to 2023, is facing a 20-count amended charge marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023. Specific claims involve the illegal award of contracts worth N1.2 billion for 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020, and the award of a N854 million contract to Mrs. Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro’s company, April 1616 Investment Ltd., for 37 Toyota Hilux vehicles allegedly giving corrupt advantage.
He was also accused of obtaining $6.23 million by false pretence, purportedly for international election observers in the 2023 general elections. Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted bail pending trial.
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