By Seyi Babalola
To give the defense time to review further evidence of the charges brought against former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Ikeja Special Offenses Court postponed the case to May 9.
Emefiele was accused of defrauding N2.8 billion and $4.5 billion.
In a brief order, Justice Rahman Oshodi stated that after reviewing the statements from both sides, he was pleased with the defense’s justification for the delay.
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.”
