By Ayo Kehinde
The legal team representing former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has called for Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, to step down from the trial, alleging bias.
Emefiele, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 8, 2024, faces a 26-count charge related to alleged abuse of office and the irregular allocation of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
The charges, spanning counts 1 to 4 and counts 8 to 26, include alleged abuse of office, accepting gratification, corrupt demand, receiving property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage, in violation of various Nigerian anti-corruption laws.
Justice Oshodi had earlier ruled on January 8 that while the abuse of office charges were valid, the specific allegation of foreign exchange allocation without a bidding process was not an offense defined under Nigerian law.
However, at Monday’s resumed hearing, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), accused the judge of preemptively declaring the defendant guilty.
The call for recusal followed Justice Oshodi’s statement in open court that the allegation of receiving bribe money had been “proven” against Emefiele.
Ojo contended that such a pronouncement, made while prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) was leading a witness, suggested the judge had already formed a conclusion before the trial’s completion.
“This court granted an accelerated hearing, but what we are witnessing is an accelerated sentencing,” Ojo argued.
Supporting the motion, another defense counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), stated that the judge’s remarks indicated a premature conviction of Emefiele, warranting his withdrawal from the case.
Justice Oshodi has adjourned ruling on the recusal application to February 26.
