An Ikeja Special Offences Court, on Friday, adjourned until May 9, for defence to study additional proof of evidence submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele was charged with $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his short ruling, said he had considered the submissions of both the parties and was satisfied with the reasons given by the defence for adjournment

He said: “I have considered the conflicting submissions regarding whether I should adjourn for further continuation of trial or not. I am satisfied with the reasons given by the defence. For the adjournment sought, I grant it. I adjourned until May 9 for continuation of trial.”

Earlier, counsel for the ex- CBN governor, Olalekan Ojo, had informed the court that the prosecution had filed an additional proof of evidence and he needed enough time to go through it.

Ojo argued that Emefiele had not seen the document and that justice rushed was justice crushed.

“I am constrained at this point to ask your lordship to do justice, the proof must be served early enough but I was being served this morning.

“Defence may find anything useful in the additional proof of evidence to cross-examine the witness in the box.
“I humbly urge the court to adjourn this matter so that I can thoroughly go through it and study it,” he said.

The second defence counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), also aligned himself with the submission of the first defence counsel.

Kotoye argued that it was only in this part of the world that prosecution would be conducting investigation, while a case was already ongoing in court.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case in the interest of justice and adequate opportunity to study the additional proof of evidence.

The EFCC Counsel, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, had informed the court that the second prosecution witness was in court for the continuation of cross-examination and that he had served the defence of the statement of one Mr John Adetola, as an additional proof of evidence.

Oyedepo, while opposing the submissions of the defence counsel, had prayed the court for the continuation of the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.

He said it was unfair for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whom he held in high esteem to describe his team and its activities as prosecutorial unfairness.

According to him, Adetola was a fifth prosecution witness in the proof of evidence.

Oyedepo said Adetola’s statement was contained in Volume Two of what was served on defence on April 4.

He said: “In preparation for his testimony that will be coming up not today, not even on May 9, the prosecution, rather than wait for the defence to formally place a demand on us on what is in the device, diligent prosecution made me make the device available to defence.

“My lord, how does that amount to prosecutorial unfairness? I plead with the defence not to delay this case unnecessarily as we have a witness in the box who has given evidence and he is being cross-examined by the first defence counsel.”

By admin

Disclaimer: Comments And Opinions On Any Part Of This Website Are Opinions Of The Blog Commenters Or Anonymous Persons And They Do Not Represent The Opinion Of Charmingpro.co.uk Posts and Images on this Website are for Entertainment and Educational Purposes Only. Pictures and culled stories posted on this site may be given credit and if a story is yours but credited to the wrong source, Please contact us and corrections will be made. If Photos are not given credit due to an oversight, it is not a mental intent to willfully infringe any copyright. Kindly Contact us to give full credit or take it down if you wish.

This website is using cookies to improve the user-friendliness. You agree by using the website further.

Privacy policy