Ruling Clarifies Scope of Legal Charges Against Former CBN Governor
The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has decided it has the legal authority to proceed with the trial of Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, on charges of corruption and fraud. Justice Rahman Oshodi made this determination in a ruling on Wednesday, focusing on the territorial jurisdiction aspect of the case.
Some Charges Dismissed for Lack of Legal Basis
The court acknowledged the arguments from Emefiele’s legal team, striking down counts 1 to 4 of the 26-count charge against him, as these were deemed unconstitutional due to the absence of legal basis under Nigerian law. These counts involved allegations of abuse of office specifically related to the allocation of foreign exchange without a bidding process.
Court Upholds Jurisdiction for Remaining Charges
However, Justice Oshodi confirmed the court’s jurisdiction over counts 8 to 20, citing sufficient evidence provided by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that linked these charges directly to Lagos. These charges encompass allegations of accepting gratification, corrupt demands, receiving fraudulently obtained property, and conferring corrupt advantages.
Legal Proceedings to Continue
The judge emphasized that his ruling pertains only to the issue of jurisdiction and does not infer any judgment on the validity or truth of the allegations themselves. After dismissing the objection regarding jurisdiction for the specified counts, the court set the next hearing dates for February 24 and 26 to continue with the trial.
This development follows Emefiele’s arraignment on April 8, 2024, where he faced a total of 26 counts related to the misuse of office, involving significant sums of money in foreign and local currencies.
