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An Abuja High Court on Wednesday adjourned the trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) until November 27 to rule on the eligibility of a witness from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) to testify in the case.
Justice Hamza Muazu made the ruling following objections raised by Emefiele’s defense team regarding the prosecution’s attempt to call the witness.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the OAGF in case number CR/577/2023 on an amended 20-count charge including 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.
He is accused of using his position to award six contracts for the supply of vehicles worth N1.2 billion 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 to all charges.
At the resumed hearing, Mathew Burkaa SAN, Emefiele’s counsel, objected to the prosecution’s 11th witness, Alvan Grumman, testifying in the case.
Burkaa argued that Grumman’s name was included in an additional proof of evidence dated October 15, 2024, which the court had struck out in a ruling on March 20.
He stated that the prosecution had appealed the March 20 decision and, as such, the witness should not be allowed to testify, describing the prosecution’s attempt as an abuse of court procedure for pursuing both vertical and horizontal proceedings simultaneously.
In response, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, prosecution counsel said the March 20 ruling only pertained to witnesses Tommy Odama and Ifeanyi Omeke and did not mention Grumman.
He said Grumman is the lead investigator who holds material facts essential to the case and urged the court to reject the defense’s objection.
After hearing both sides, Justice Muazu adjourned the matter until November 27 to decide on the admissibility of Grumman’s testimony and the continuation of the trial.
Earlier, Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution had filed two separate applications to subpoena Tommy Odama and Ifeanyi Omeke, who hold information important to the case.
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Emefiele’s counsel opposed the applications, arguing that the March 20 ruling remains binding and that since the prosecution has appealed, they cannot return to the lower court to seek the same requests.
He also noted that the subpoenas were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), not the OAGF, which is prosecuting the case.
Justice Muazu has reserved ruling on these subpoena applications.
