The trial of a former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, was stalled on Friday after his lawyers sought an adjournment following the service of additional proof of evidence served on them in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, granted the adjournment after he agreed with the defence team that the reasons given for the adjournment had merit.
The judge adjourned till May 9th for a continuation of the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness, John Ayoh, a former Director of Information Technology of the CBN.
Emefiele is facing a 26-count charge before the court, alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, over allegations of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud brought against them by the EFCC.
During their arraignment on April 8, they had both pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the next sitting of April 12, the court subsequently commenced trial with the testimony of the first prosecution witness, a staff of the CBN, Monday Osazuwa, who told the court how Emefiele, on different occasions, directed him to collect millions of dollars in cash in tranches.
The second prosecution witness commenced his testimony on April 29 and Justice Oshodi adjourned the continuation of the trial to May 9, 2024, for a continuation of his testimony under cross-examination.
At the resumed proceeding, the prosecution team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the second prosecution witness was in court for the continuation of his testimony.
He also told the court that he had served on the defence team, the statements of one John Adetola, as additional proof of evidence.
But counsel to Emefiele Olalekan Ojo (SAN) raised objections. He told the court that Emefiele had not seen the documents just served on him by the prosecution, and urged the court to grant an adjournment to enable him to study the documents and adequately prepare for the defence of his client. He noted that justice rushed is justice crushed.
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