Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Special Offences Court has scheduled a ruling for January 7, 2025, regarding an application filed by Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Emefiele is challenging the court’s jurisdiction over his case.
He is facing 26 counts filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuse him of misusing his office, resulting in a loss of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is also on trial for related charges, including the unlawful acceptance of gifts.
During the proceedings, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case in Lagos. He claimed that the alleged offences, including abuse of office, fell outside the territorial reach of the Lagos Special Offences Court.
Ojo contended that the charges violated Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution, asserting that the actions Emefiele is accused of were not legally recognized offences.
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He emphasized that since the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have legislative authority over matters on the Exclusive Legislative List, Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011—under which Counts 1 to 4 were filed—cannot apply extraterritorially to any alleged abuse of office by Emefiele.
He further argued that a court’s territorial jurisdiction refers to the geographical area within which its authority can be exercised; therefore, outside this area, the court cannot act.
Ojo also urged the court to strike out Counts 1 to 4 of the 18 amended charges filed on April 4, 2024, on the basis that the alleged offences took place outside the court’s jurisdiction.
In response, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, maintained that the court had the authority to hear the case. He argued that the alleged crimes were economic and financial in nature, which fall within the EFCC’s jurisdiction, and that there was substantial evidence supporting Lagos as the appropriate venue for the trial.
Oyedepo asserted that the subject matter of the charges clearly fell within the court’s jurisdiction since the offences were committed within its territorial reach.
He argued that evidence and witness testimonies pointed to Lagos as the proper location for the trial, and that the objections raised by Emefiele’s legal team were not supported by the facts or evidence.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter for a ruling.
