Court Rejects EFCC’s Bid to Submit Additional Evidence in Emefiele’s Trial

Court Rejects EFCC’s Bid to Submit Additional Evidence in Emefiele’s Trial

By Fly Cable News

An Abuja High Court in Maitama has dismissed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to introduce fresh evidence in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice Hamza Muazu held that the EFCC’s attempt to file additional proof of evidence over a year after the charges were instituted amounted to “trial by ambush” and violated Emefiele’s right to fair hearing.

The anti-graft agency had filed the request on October 15, 2024, seeking to present two new witnesses, Tommy Odama John and Ifeanyi Omeke, who made extra-judicial statements in August 2024—months after Emefiele’s trial had already begun in November 2023.

Justice Muazu noted that the EFCC had previously amended the charge and introduced additional evidence in February 2024, which included testimonies from former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and one Bamayi Mairiga.

Rejecting the EFCC’s latest bid, the court ruled that allowing further amendments at this stage would be prejudicial to the defendant. However, it declined Emefiele’s request to strike out the charges entirely, stating that the trial was nearing completion and should proceed to judgment.

The court also refused to expunge the testimonies of Mustapha and Mairiga, despite Emefiele’s argument that they violated his right to fair hearing under Section 36(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

The trial was adjourned until June 3.

Emefiele is facing charges of procurement fraud, including the alleged illegal award of contracts worth N1.2 billion for 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020, and granting a corrupt advantage to one Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro for the purchase of 37 Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N854 million.