The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ruled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) attempt to introduce new evidence in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Hamza Muazu delivered this decision during a hearing, rejecting the EFCC’s motion for additional proof of evidence, which had been presented more than 365 days after the initial charges were filed. Emefiele is currently facing allegations of procurement fraud.
The EFCC sought to introduce two additional witnesses, Tommy John and Ifeanyi Omeke, whose statements were made in August 2024, while the original charges against Emefiele were filed in August 2023. Justice Muazu ruled that allowing these new testimonies would violate Emefiele’s right to a fair trial, describing the EFCC’s approach as “trial by ambush” and “fishing for evidence.”
Justice Muazu reiterated that the charges should only be filed after thorough investigations and the establishment of a prima facie case. Despite rejecting the EFCC’s motion, he declined to dismiss the charges against Emefiele, acknowledging that the trial was nearing completion.
The judge emphasized the importance of concluding the trial based on its merits and set June 3 for the continuation of the proceedings. Additionally, he chose not to expunge evidence from previous witnesses, ruling that the introduction of their statements did not infringe on Emefiele’s constitutional rights regarding fair hearing.
