Emefiele: Court Adjourns Trial to October 2

The ongoing trial of former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was stalled on Thursday due to his absence. Emefiele, who is being prosecuted before Justice Maryanne Anenih by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge in which he is among others, accused of unlawfully printing new Naira notes.

The EFCC alleged that Emefiele had without authorisation from former President Muhammadu Buhari, printed N684 million notes with a total sum of N18.96billion. The anti-graft agency also accused the former CBN boss of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of about N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

However, at the mention of the case on Thursday, neither Emefiele nor his Lawyers were in court.

Prosecuting Counsel, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, told the court that he tried, but could not reach the lead defence Lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, SAN on the phone. Oyedepo said he later called another Lawyer in the defence team, who told him that they omitted Thursday’s date in their diary.

He then asked for an adjournment to October 2, which is one of the dates earlier fixed for the case.

Justice Anenih, in the ruling, said she was granting the request for an adjournment in the interest of justice, and at the instance of the defence.

She then adjourned the matter till October 2, 9, and 17, for continuation of trial.