Former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
An Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu has scheduled November 27 to rule on whether a key prosecution witness can testify in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele is currently facing trial in case number CR/577/2023, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), over a restructured 20-count charge. The allegations range from criminal breach of trust and forgery to conspiracy and fraudulent procurement of funds while in office.
According to the prosecution, Emefiele allegedly used his position as CBN Governor to influence the award of contracts worth approximately ₦1.2 billion between 2018 and 2022. The contracts were reportedly awarded to April 1616, a company linked to a CBN staff member, Sa’adatu Ramalan Yaro, who is listed as both director and shareholder.
Emefiele has denied all charges, pleading not guilty.
At Wednesday’s hearing, his lead counsel, Mathew Burkaa (SAN), challenged the eligibility of the prosecution’s 11th witness, Alvan Grumman, to take the stand. Burkaa argued that Grumman’s name was included in an additional proof of evidence dated October 15, 2024—a document the court had struck out in a ruling delivered on March 20.
Burkaa told the court that since the prosecution had already appealed the March ruling, it would be procedurally improper and an abuse of process to simultaneously seek to rely on evidence the court had already dismissed. “You cannot pursue vertical and horizontal proceedings at the same time,” he argued.
However, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) countered, saying that the March 20 ruling only addressed objections raised against two other witnesses—Tommy Odama and Ifeanyi Omeke—and not Grumman specifically. He described Grumman as a crucial investigator in the case and urged the court to allow him to testify.
After hearing both sides, Justice Muazu postponed ruling on the matter until November 27.
Earlier in the proceedings, Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution had filed two applications requesting subpoenas for Odama and Omeke, who he said also hold critical information relevant to the trial. He noted that the court had not yet ruled on those applications.
In response, Emefiele’s legal team opposed the subpoenas, arguing that the prosecution could not seek new reliefs on a matter already under appeal. They also pointed out that the applications were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), whereas the case before the court was being prosecuted by the OAGF.
Justice Muazu has also reserved a ruling on the subpoena applications.
NAN
