Emefiele seeks Judge’s recusal in $4.5 Billion fraud trial
Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has called for Justice Rahman Oshodi to recuse himself from his trial.
Emefiele made this request during the proceedings at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja.
Currently, Emefiele faces 19 serious charges, including allegations of fraud that involve $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed these charges against him, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
During Monday’s hearing, Emefiele’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olalekan Ojo, accused Justice Oshodi of bias.
Consequently, they demanded his immediate withdrawal from presiding over the case.
The judge has adjourned proceedings until February 26, 2025, to decide on the recusal request.
Allegations and Charges
The EFCC initially filed 22 charges against Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, but four counts related to abuse of office were struck out on January 8, 2025. The court retained jurisdiction over the remaining 19 charges, which include abuse of office, receiving gratification, and corrupt demands.
Witness Testimony and Evidence Dispute
At Monday’s hearing, the prosecution presented its seventh witness, John Adetola, who testified that he had delivered $400,000 to Emefiele’s office on behalf of another individual, John Ayoh.
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The prosecution also attempted to introduce WhatsApp messages retrieved from Omoile’s phone as evidence. However, the defense objected, arguing that the document had only been admitted for identification purposes and could not be used as substantive evidence. Despite this objection, Justice Oshodi permitted the prosecution witness to read from the document, a decision that prompted Emefiele’s legal team to claim judicial bias.
Defense’s Push for Recusal
Arguing for the judge’s recusal, Ojo stated, “A judge can be either consciously or unconsciously biased. At this stage, I urge the court to recuse itself.” Omoile’s counsel, Gbadamosi Kazeem (SAN), supported this position.
EFCC’s Opposition
EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) opposed the application for recusal, describing it as a delay tactic. “This proceeding has been conducted fairly and equitably. My Lordship has ruled against us many times. If the defense is dissatisfied, they know the appropriate legal channels to challenge the rulings,” Oyedepo argued.
He also noted that such an application should be made formally rather than orally. “The application is intended to delay the matter; that is the only reasonable conclusion,” he added.
Pending Applications and Adjournment
In addition to the recusal request, Emefiele’s legal team sought leave to appeal an earlier court ruling on jurisdiction. Justice Oshodi has scheduled February 26, 2025, to deliver rulings on both the recusal application and other pending motions.
The trial continues to draw significant attention as it unfolds in Lagos State’s Special Offences Court.
