The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele‘s legal team has frustrated the continuation of the trial in Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja due to additional evidence presented by the prosecution.
The defendants are facing charges of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion in frauds brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Rahman Oshodi had ordered an accelerated hearing at the commencement of trial while preventing an attempt by Emefiele at the last adjourned date to stall the trial by filing a jurisdiction application.
At the resumed proceeding, the prosecution team led by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that the second prosecution witness was present, and they had served the defence of the statement of Mr. John Adetola as additional proof of evidence.
Emefiele’s Counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), argued that the defendants had not had a chance to thoroughly go through the documents served on them by the prosecution and asked the court to adjourn the case.
He said that justice rushed is justice crushed and that the proof must be served early enough.
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The second defence counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN) also urged the court not to entertain ‘trial by ambush.’
The prosecution counsel, however, objected to the request for an adjournment by the defendants.
He argued that the defence counsels were unfair for describing his team and its activities as prosecutorial unfairness.
He told the court that Adetola, who was listed as the 5th prosecution witness in the proof of evidence statement, was contained in volume two of what was served on defence on April 4.
He said that they had made the device available to the defense in preparation for his testimony and that they were not rushing or crushing justice, but rather aiding the oil of justice to rise steadily.
After hearing from both parties, the trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, granted the adjournment sought by the defence.
The continuation of the trial was adjourned to May 9, 2024.
