The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with the court granting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission a final adjournment to present its last witness.
Presiding judge, Hamza Mu’azu, ruled that the prosecution must be given one final opportunity in the interest of justice, stressing that no further delays would be tolerated.
Emefiele is facing an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretence during his tenure as CBN governor.
One of the charges alleges that he obtained $6.23 million under false pretences, claiming it was meant for international election observers during the 2023 general elections.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Abbas Mohammed, told the court that the commission had made efforts to secure the presence of its final witness, Eloho Edwin Okboziakpo, an investigator in the case.
He explained that the witness, a police officer, was unavailable due to his involvement in a separate garnishee proceeding in Gwagwalada and required official clearance from the Inspector-General of Police before appearing.
According to Mohammed, the prosecution had written to the office of the IGP and contacted the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Legal to facilitate the release of the witness.
The prosecution also sought the court’s permission to substitute an earlier exhibit with a 2019 document to avoid delays.
However, defence counsel, Mathieu Burkaa, opposed the request for adjournment.
In his ruling, Justice Mu’azu held that the testimony of the investigator was crucial to the fair determination of the case and granted the application, describing it as a final adjournment.
The matter has been adjourned to April 27 and 28, 2026, for continuation of trial.
