The trial of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja don stall because Emefiele no show for court.
Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourn the case to November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Emefiele dey face 19-count charge wey Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, bring. The charge talk about alleged abuse of office, receiving gratification, making corrupt demands and fraudulent receipt of property in transactions involving about $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
Omoile, the second defendant, dey face three counts wey relate to alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both defendants don plead not guilty to the charges.
When proceedings resume, Emefiele no dey court. Dem talk say he dey attend another trial in Abuja. Counsel to the first defendant, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, SAN, inform the court say Emefiele no go available for the proceedings.
EFCC prosecutor, C. C. Okezie, tell the court say Emefiele write letter dated October 6, 2026, to notify the court say he go dey attending another trial in Abuja on the same dates wey dem schedule for Lagos proceedings.
But counsel to Omoile, A. Kotoye, SAN, say he never see or receive any notification from the court about Emefiele absence. Kotoye express concern say the second defendant appear to be treated as if he no be part of the proceedings. He talk say he no know why the court go dey treat the second defendant as if he no be part of the proceedings.
Labi-Lawal, SAN, urge the court to vacate the previously scheduled dates in October. He argue say e fit hard for Emefiele to travel from Abuja to Lagos to attend proceedings the day after he appear for court in Abuja. He note say Emefiele get another ongoing case in Abuja, and the outcome and scheduling no dey predictable.
After the submissions, Justice Oshodi vacate the October dates wey dem fix earlier for trial and adjourn the matter to November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for continuation of proceedings.
For another court in Abuja, a Director in Federal Ministry of Finance, Ali Mohammed, testify as 10th prosecution witness, PW10, for the ongoing trial of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. He tell Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, say the ministry no know about withdrawal of N124.86 billion from Central Bank of Nigeria.
Mohammed talk say he appear before court after Ministry of Finance receive letter from investigation team about N154 billion wey CBN reportedly withdraw. Prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed, lead him in evidence.
He explain say Department of Home Finance get three divisions: State and Public Finance, Trade Division and Banking and Other Financial Institutions. The three divisions dey under him. After the letter from investigators, he contact the three divisions to know whether dem aware of the transaction. According to him, none of the divisions know about the transaction.
He identify State and Public Finance Investment Division as the relevant division because e dey oversee CBN. The witness talk say he later write through Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance to Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, OAGF, to find out whether the office know about the transaction.
He explain say the step necessary because as civil servant, Minister of Finance no dey make direct payments to individuals or organisations, while OAGF dey responsible for payments on behalf of Federal Government. Mohammed tell court say OAGF respond in writing say e no know about the transaction and indicate say the money na direct credit from CBN. He say he rely on the response from Accountant-General before he reply Special Investigator.
He talk say he respond via memo of wetin happen between him office and that of AGF and seek clearance for the document to be forwarded to Special Investigator. After that, dem forward the letter.
The witness say documents sent to Special Investigator include letter with Federal Ministry of Finance logo, wey he sign, plus attached letter signed by Accountant-General of the Federation. Prosecution show Mohammed the documents, and he identify them in court. Counsel now seek to tender them as evidence. When dem ask about originals, Mohammed say dem don already forward them to Special Investigator. So he seek to tender certified true copies.
Defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, say he no get objection to their admission. Justice Maryanne Anineh admit the documents in evidence and mark them as Exhibits AJ, AK and AL. During further examination, prosecution counsel ask Mohammed to explain purpose of Exhibit AJ. The witness say the document show say Federal Ministry of Finance no know about withdrawal of N124.86 billion. He say he rely on letter wey Accountant-General send to ministry before he sign the document. Explaining Exhibit AL, Mohammed say na confirmation from Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation say e no know about transaction involving N124.86 billion.
