A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to pay a fine of N500,000 over repeated adjournments in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The order was issued by Justice Hamza Mu’azu after the prosecution failed to present its scheduled witness in court during the latest hearing of the case. The witness, identified as DCP Edwin Okpoziakeo, is part of the investigative team involved in the case.
During the proceedings, the EFCC’s lawyer informed the court that the witness could not appear due to administrative issues. He explained that although the officer had been notified about the hearing, the police hierarchy requested that a formal letter be addressed to the Inspector-General of Police before the witness could attend the trial.
The prosecutor told the court that he complied with the request by sending the letter but later received information that the witness had another matter to attend to in a different court in Gwagwalada, where his personal bank account was reportedly under a garnishee order.
Following the explanation, the prosecution requested another adjournment to enable it to produce the witness for continuation of the trial.
However, the defence counsel strongly opposed the request, arguing that the prosecution had already exceeded the number of adjournments permitted under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. He told the court that the law allows a maximum of five adjournments for each party from arraignment to final judgment, but the prosecution had already obtained eight adjournments in the case.
The defence further argued that the defendant should not suffer delays because of bureaucratic lapses within the prosecution’s team. He insisted that the prosecution had already been given ample opportunity to present its witnesses.
In his ruling, the judge acknowledged the arguments presented by the defence but stated that the court still has discretion to grant an adjournment when it is necessary for the interest of justice.
While allowing the adjournment request, the court imposed a N500,000 fine on the EFCC for causing delays in the proceedings.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to April 27 for continuation of the trial.
Emefiele, who served as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2014 to 2023, is facing a 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, abuse of office and obtaining money by false pretence.
Prosecutors allege that he illegally awarded contracts for the purchase of 43 vehicles valued at about N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020.
He is also accused of conferring a corrupt advantage on a staff member of the central bank by awarding a company linked to her a contract for the procurement of 37 Toyota Hilux vehicles worth about N854 million.
Another allegation in the charge claims that he obtained about 6.23 million dollars under the pretext that the funds were meant for foreign election observers during the 2023 general elections.
The former central bank governor has pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against him and remains on bail pending the determination of the case.
