Former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, has asked a court in Abuja to consider closing the prosecution’s case against him over the continued absence of key witnesses.
At the latest hearing before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Emefiele’s legal team argued that the prosecution, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, had already presented several witnesses, most of whom were investigators, and that additional testimonies would add little value to the case.
The defence urged the court to compel the prosecution to either produce its remaining witnesses without delay or have its case formally closed, insisting that prolonged proceedings without new evidence would be unnecessary.
Emefiele is currently standing trial on a 20-count charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and abuse of office. He has denied all the allegations and maintains his innocence.
During the proceedings, a prosecution witness told the court that billions of dollars were allegedly released from the apex bank for election-related purposes, with claims that some approval documents carried forged signatures of top government officials.
Under cross-examination, however, the witness acknowledged that certain aspects of the investigation, including verification of signatures attributed to Emefiele, had not been conclusively established ,an argument the defence quickly seized upon to question the strength of the case.
In response, the presiding judge directed both parties to reserve their final arguments and instructed the prosecution to make efforts to ensure that its remaining witnesses are available at the next hearing.
The case was subsequently adjourned for continuation of trial, as legal observers continue to monitor what could become a pivotal moment in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched financial crime proceedings.
