Lagos Court To Prosecute Emefiele, February 24

By Felix Kuyinu

The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed February 24 for continuation of trial against former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Rahman Oshodi called for an adjournment of trial during Emefiele’s arraignment at the Ikeja Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday.

The defendant was initially on trial on 26 counts bordering on fraud and abuse of office. However, the court jettisoned counts one to four, bordering on allocation of foreign exchange without reason. The court also ruled that the counts are not defined as an offence in the Nigerian law.

Nevertheless, the court maintained the remaining charges remain valid, citing statutory and constitutional provisions.

However, the court maintained that jurisdiction over the remaining charges, citing statutory and constitutional provisions resulting to the Economic Finacial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alleging various infractions in counts 8 to 26, including fraud and abuse of office.

“The EFCC has provided various facts in the proof of evidence attached to the case file to establish jurisdiction on counts eight to 26,” said Justice Oshodi.